Disability Rights Arkansas

United Methodist Children's Home Little Rock

*Photos taken by DRA staff during onsite monitoring visits. Photos reflect the most recent conditions observed by DRA staff but may not reflect the current conditions at the facility. If you are associated with a facility and have updated information or photos you would like to share, please contact DRA at rstanford@disabilityrightsar.org

Methodist Children’s Home operates multiple programs on a single campus. Police responses to this campus often do not identify the program they are responding to. All reports plausibly related to the PRTF or Qualified Residential Treatment Program/Group Home (QRTP) have been included here. Where we can be certain the response was to the QRTP it is noted.

Location: Little Rock, AR                   Population Served: Children and adolescents in need of out of home psychiatric care in a residential setting

# of residents per unit: 20 Residents per room: 1 Capacity: 40

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Clients have regularly scheduled phone call opportunities. The number of actual calls depends on the clients wish to utilize these opportunities. In person visitation (assuming no quarantine precautions) is available every weekend and can be scheduled at other times as needed by the family or guardian.

Restraint utilized? Yes Chemical Restraint utilized? Yes Seclusion utilized? Yes

Treatment Components:

Clinical Director: LCSW                    Therapists: 1 full-time therapist (LCSW)

Treatment modalities offered: Facility declined to identify any specific treatment modalities available

# of individual therapy sessions/week: Minimum 1 per week scheduled. May vary upon the treatment plan of the client.

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: Minimum of 1 with 2 preferred.

UMCH LR Report (combined)

Photo Appendix to report

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PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer

Buildings & Grounds conducted. Census: 28. Classroom 1 staff/client ratio: 2:8, Classroom 2 staff/client ratio: 2:8, Hallway staff/client ratio: 2:7, Milieu staff/client ratio: 1:2.

All buildings and sleeping areas clean, safe and in good repair. Bathrooms observed clean and sanitary with functioning sinks, showers, and toilets. Grounds clean and free of safety hazards. Fire and severe weather drill logs checked today. MARs checked. All initialed and up to date.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Sexual Contact, Visit Compliance Report

A former resident at the facility reported the following allegations: Other kids would pick on him and touch him inappropriately while they would shower. The client stated they would touch his penis, and also that they would touch his butt and put a finger inside his rectum. He stated he would tell them to stop, and they wouldn’t. The client never did say how many people would do this to him but he said there were a lot of them. He was discharged from the facility on 11/17/23. This was reported to the AR Child Abuse Hotline and accepted.

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.

Licensing spoke with staff regarding the complaint. No timeframe is given to review video. No video is available for the shower area where some of the alleged incidents occurred. Staff stated the clients shower alone with no other clients present.

The CACD case was unsubstantiated. The Licensing complaint was unfounded.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client reported he injured his hand outside of the facility, but during Recreational Therapy, he was trying to dodge a ball and fell on his right wrist. An x-ray was completed finding no acute fractures or dislocations.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client needed an x-ray of his right wrist. Client was playing a game in the gym with his peers, when he slid into base and fell on his right arm. An x-ray was completed, finding no acute fractures or dislocation.

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer

Facility cited 110.17 for late reporting (client received the x-ray on 1/4/24 and it was reported to licensing on 1/8/24). In-service training will be provided to nursing staff and a verbal warning will be provided to the responsible nursing staff on serious incident reporting procedures.

PRLU or OLTC

Corrective Action Plan, Recertification Survey, Revisit Survey

A validation survey was conducted from 12/18/2023 through 12/21/2023. The facility was not in compliance with §483, Subpart G – Conditions of Participation for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center:

  • N 127 – Facility failed to ensure a physician’s order for a physical restraint was received for 1 (Client #5) of 1 client.
  • N 142 – Facility failed to ensure an order for physical and chemical restraints were not received at the same time for 3 (Clients #1, #2 and #5) clients.

Plan of Correction:

  • The policy and procedure in place already requires orders to be obtained for any restraint. Upon being notified of the deficiency, additional monitoring steps were put in place. The Nurse Manager is responsible for checking that orders are obtained for all restraints and seclusions and now checks these twice weekly for compliance. The RTC program has enlisted the assistance of the HIM department to monitor the completion of seclusion and restraint documentation and physician orders. The results of these audits are reported to administration. The Nurse Manager reports on accuracy of S&Rs at the bi-monthly Department Head meetings.
  • Nurses were educated to ensure that no simultaneous orders for physical and chemical restraints are obtained. Nursing staff are required to indicate that less restrictive measures have been attempted and failed within supporting documentation on the Seclusion and Restraint form. The Nurse Manager is now responsible for monitoring that orders for physical and chemical restraints have not been received simultaneously.

During a revisit conducted on 2/21/24, the facility was found to be in compliance with program requirements.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client complained to the Physical Therapist Specialist of pain and discomfort in her right shoulder. An x-ray was ordered and findings are: No acute findings, no foreign bodies to be found, all skeletal structures are intact.

Police Report

Non Police Incident

Officers were unable to locate the building the hang up call was coming from. No answer on call back. Officers circulated the area with negative results.

Police Report

Battery

Officers responded to a disturbance at 2002 S Fillmore. Upon arrival officers made contact with Methodist Children’s Home staff. While attempting to intake Juvenile1 (Jv1), he became irate and punched a staff member, Mr. Justin Smith, in the head. Mr. Smith advised Jv1 stated he was about to start beating everybody up and Jv1 decided to hit him first. Officers did not observe any injuries. The Methodist nursing staff issued medication while Jv1 was restrained prior to officers arrival to calm him down. Officers stood by while MEMS transported Jv1 to the Methodist Maumelle facility. Officers provided Mr. Smith with an incident number and left the location without further to report.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer

Buildings & Grounds conducted from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Census: 28

Dayroom staff/client ratio: 4:9, Classroom staff/client ratio: 3:8, Milieu staff/client ratio: 1:1, Therapist office staff/client ratio: 1:1

Hall C and D observed to be clean, safe and in good repair. Bathrooms clean and sanitary with functioning sinks, showers, and toilets. Cafeteria observed to be clean and sanitary. Gym observed to be clean and free of safety hazards.

MAR checked. All initialed and up to date.

Annual Review/Policies PRTF Checklist completed. All items accounted for except a log or file of all calls to the child abuse hotline. Facility cited 110.11. UMCH PRTF Director Kaylynn Bennett created an electronic child abuse hotline log prior to conclusion of today’s visit.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client was playing in the gym with peers. Client complained of some ankle pain. An x-ray was ordered and the results are: normal x-ray examination of ankle. No findings of any irregularities.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client was upset and punched a door. Nurse assessed client and client refused ice packs stating he was fine. APRN came and visited on 11/14/23 and ordered an x-ray. X-ray results of his left hand were normal (no fractures or abnormalities).

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client was in the gym playing catch with a peer. She began running to catch the ball and fell on her left knee. She was assessed by the nurse and an x-ray was ordered due to a birth defect that the client has. Client x-ray was completed on 11/13/2023, X-ray results indicates no findings of an acute fracture.

Police Report

Battery

Officers responded on a battery. Upon arrival officers made contact with Vic#1(Pearson). Pearson advised officers he is an employee at the facility. Pearson advised officers he told Susp#1(Juvenile 1) it was time to take a shower. Pearson advised the juvenile pushed him into the wall and began poking himself with a pen. Pearson advised he attempted to take the pen from the juvenile and the juvenile scraped his arm and stomach with the pen. Pearson advised officers this has happened multiple times in the past with various staff members. Officers observed very minor scrapes to the stomach and arm of the victim. Pearson advised officers he wanted a report made so he can seek warrants on the juvenile, officer gave Pearson an incident number. Officer asked Pearson if he needed medical attention, he refused.

On 11/10/2023, at approximately 2234 hours, officers responded back to the location and made contact with Pearson. Pearson advised Juvenile 1 pushed him and hit him again. He said he did not sustain any injuries this time. Pearson said he was leaving work after he was done speaking with officers and his supervisor did not want officers speaking with Juvenile 1.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client got upset with another peer, walked out of designated area and kicked through some doors, complained of knee and hand pain. An X-ray was ordered and results are: No fractures and normal anatomy of his right hand and right knee. Likely he just has soft tissue injury/inflammation causing his current discomfort.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client reported abdominal pain to right lower quadrant with nausea and episodes of diarrhea earlier today. An x-ray was ordered and the results were normal; no issues noted. He did have a moderate amount of stool in his bowels and may just need to have a bowel movement.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm, Suicide Attempt

Client was sent to Arkansas Children’s Hospital after reporting she broke a pair of sunglasses, used the screw for self-harm, then swallowed the screw. X-ray findings: No acute findings. Waiting for foreign body to pass in client’s stool.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client complained of abdominal pain. An x-ray was ordered. Findings: Normal examination of the abdomen and pelvis. No acute issues noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client complained of ankle pain from falling the gym. An x-ray was ordered. Findings: No acute fracture, normal findings.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client complained of pinky toe pain on 10/30/23 due to kicking a soccer ball on 10/29/23. An x-ray was ordered and he has an acute nondisplaced proximal phalanx fracture.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint, Medical, Notice of Incident

Licensing received a complaint on 11/1/2023 regarding a child who was picked up from the facility on 10/28/2023 by her guardian for a visit. The child was complaining of ongoing pain in her stomach, so the guardian took her to the emergency room and was then transported to ACH for further treatment of pancreatitis, a blood clot in her spleen, and sepsis. The child reported she was complaining to the nurses about the pain since Wednesday 10/25/2023 and they gave her ibuprofen on Thursday 10/26/2023. The child reported that when she continued to complain of pain, the staff told her to quit faking it. Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted.

Nursing notes gathered from the facility do show the resident received 800mg of Ibuprofen on 10/26/2023, but there were no other nursing notes for the resident after that time.

11/9/2023 – Licensing spoke with guardian who stated the resident was discharged from the hospital on 11/7/23 and is now home and recovering. There was no identified cause for the medical issues the resident experienced. Guardian provided email attachments showing the resident’s diagnosis from her 10 day stay at Arkansas Children’s Hospital along with a timeline of events.

Email sent to UMCH 11/14/23 to ascertain what the plan of action is for UMCH’s nursing department to correct any issues (if they have identified any) to prevent incidents like what happened with resident.

Facility reported that client did begin complaining of stomach pain on 10/25/23 with no other significant symptoms, and continued to participate in facility activities. Facility stated the medical staff would not have reasonably suspected pancreatitis in the timeframe prior to her leaving on pass due to her symptoms and the short period of time between the onset of symptoms and when she experienced severe abdominal pain on 10/28/23 when she was taken to the ER. Therefore, there does not seem to be a need for change or improvement in the performance of nursing staff.

CACD investigation was unsubstantiated. This complaint was unfounded by Licensing. No visit conducted for this case and no licensing citations issued.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client fell while in the gym playing and twisted her ankle. An x-ray was completed Saturday 10/28/23. Findings: No acute fractures or dislocations that could be identified.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client fell while in the gym playing and stated she twisted her ankle. An X-ray was ordered. Findings: Normal x-ray examination of the ankle.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint, Notice of Incident

Licensing received complaint: Reporter stated that her son and another resident tested positive for THC while in the care of United Methodist Children’s Home. Due to him testing positive for THC, he lost privileges to the outing which lead to an aggressive outburst. Reporter stated she is concerned how drugs entered the facility and for the safety of the residents.

The incident the complaint is regarding was previously reported to the PRLU and investigated (case combined with 10/10/23 report).

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.

Buildings and grounds conducted from 9:00am – 11:30am. Halls A, B, C, and D observed. MARs checked for 5 residents. No licensing concerns noted during visit.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client reported to staff that 2 peers had a cannabis pin inside of the building. Client also reported that a staff member gave the residents the marijuana pin. Both residents were drug tested. Resident 1 tested positive for marijuana and Resident 2 tested negative. When asked, Resident 2 confirmed Resident 1 got the marijuana pin from staff. The staff member was informed of the allegations and stated she would never do anything like that. The staff member was sent to conduct a drug test at AEL and was suspended pending the investigation/drug screen results. Child Abuse Hotline was called, not accepted.

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.

Facility visited 10/12/23. Resident 1 reported to staff that he snuck the vape in in his privates and flushed the vape pen down the toilet whilst at UMCH.

Facility cited 109.1.g: Client tested negative for marijuana upon admission to UMCH 8/23/23 and tested positive for marijuana 10/10/23. Client has not been on any gate passes since admission. Client was given access to marijuana whilst at UMCH. There is no definitive evidence at this time to support specified staff provided the marijuana, but it is evident client had access to marijuana whilst at this facility.

Staff member has been drug tested which was inconclusive. Staff will be suspended pending additional drug test results and pending facility investigation.

10/19/23 – Facility reported that the staff member’s subsequent drug screen was negative, and that the internal investigation did not support allegation. Staff member was approved to return to work.

No findings as this was not a licensing complaint investigation.