Disability Rights Arkansas

Piney Ridge Treatment Center

*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 [email protected]

Location: Fayetteville, AR                   Population Served: Children and adolescents ages 7-17 with sexually maladaptive behaviors and other co-occurring psychiatric conditions.

# of residents per unit: Up to 32 Residents per room: 1, 3 or 4 Capacity: 102

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Typically, bi-weekly phone calls. Visits with family are scheduled (frequency or schedule not provided).

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

Treatment Modalities:

Clinical Director: LPC's                    Therapists: 8 full-time therapists (2 LMSW, 1 LPC, 3 LAC, 2 LPC); 1 part-time/contract therapist (LAC)

Treatment modalities offered: TF-CBT, CBT and other modalities individualized for resident and needs.

# of individual therapy sessions/week: 1-2

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: 3

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PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • At approximately 1750 Client was refusing to go to the cafeteria and in a few minutes time span client was able to pry the lock mechanism open to the door leading outside and left the facility. Fayetteville PD was called at approximately 1805 and the resident returned to the facility about 1 ½ hours later. Client had rash on arms from going through wooded area.
    • Plan stated re-training for direct care and nursing staff on hyper-vigilant supervision of residents while outside at the outdoor recreational area for the next two weeks. Reeducation will be completed by 5.31.21.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint Survey, Workload Report

  • Complaint #AR00026526 unsubstantiated; No deficiencies cited.
  • Survey Team Composition and Workload Report –
    • Surveyor 1 onsite 9.5 hours 8am – 6pm; 5 travel hours, 1 off-site report prep hours (05/05/21 – 05/06/21).
    • Surveyor 2 onsite 9.5 hours 8am – 6pm; 6.75 travel hours (05/05/21 – 05/06/21).

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment – Staff Abuse
    • Client received black eye from unknown staff during a restraint.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Update from investigator stated they have not been able to determine who the staff members are. Client did not know names, only had a brief description.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment – Staff Abuse and Sexual Abuse Allegations
    • It was reported that client jumped the fence at facility and ran to a nearby home, knocked on the door, and explained to the individual that he had been “chained up”, sexually assaulted, and deprived of water. Individual stated they would contact law enforcement, and client then left the home and proceeded to an apartment complex stating the same. Law enforcement arrived and client explained to them he was sexually abused where he was previously living in Virginia. Client stated while at facility, staff yelled at him and pushed him against the wall causing him to be scared and wet himself. Client also disclosed that an unknown peer in the facility asked for sexual favors and client refused; Client then said peer rubbed his crotch area. Further details unknown. Both clients separated by facility to different rooms.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted, unsubstantiated. Investigator spoke with client’s caseworker in Virginia, and she said that client has a history of making up allegations but has also been abused in past facilities.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Injury
    • On 4.25.21, client went to nurse’s station with staff and client stated that peer accidentally stepped on his hand. The third digit on right hand noted to be disfigured, swollen, and bleeding slightly. Client sent to Physician’s Specialty Hospital and diagnosed with a 3rd finger distal tuft fracture and the nail bed was removed; Given antibiotic and will follow-up next week. Specialist determined staff to child ratio was
      5:30 at the time of incident. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • Client was outside during free time and while the group was lining up, he broke off a fence post and squeezed through, eloping off the property. 22 residents (including eloped client) and 4 staff were outside during elopement. Client was in police custody about 30 minutes later. While in police custody he alleged that a peer in his bedroom 2 nights before had asked him for sexual favors and when he told the peer no, peer kicked client in groin and groped him. Allegation accepted for investigation by state police. Resident moved to different rooms.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Agency provided following corrective action plan: Re-training for direct care and nursing staff on hyper-vigilant supervision of residents while outside at the outdoor recreational area for the next 2 weeks.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Census 90; Viewed gym, bathrooms, classrooms, cafeteria, yard, and dayrooms – no concerns noted. All areas in ratio. Reviewed 2 personnel records and 1 children’s record with no citations.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Injury – Resident Assault
    • After client 1 was antagonizing client 2 in cafeteria, client 2 turned around and hit client 1 in the facial area. Client 1s nose bled and was assessed and sent to Physician’s Specialty Hospital for further evaluation. Client 1 was diagnosed with a bilateral nasal bone fracture – parasinusitis – given antibiotic and will follow-up with ENT. Specialist determined staff to child ratio was 5:30 at time of incident.
    • Both clients are on a 6ft no contact order and staff are aware of the incident between them.

Police Report

Disturbance

Callers foster child causing scene; Juvenile was released but did not want to be. Facility was not able to readmit. CEMS transported Juvenile to NW Medical for further treatment.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Complaint of sharp edges in seclusion room – Unfounded. Complaint of children being left in seclusion rooms longer than documented is to be determined and findings will be provided at a later date.
  • Regs not correctable –
    • R907.3 – East: 2 Staff, 17 Minors. North: 4 Staff, 32 Minors. West: 3 Staff, 24 Minors. South: 2 Staff, 16 Minors. Agency was out of ratio in EAST unit according to night ratio standards.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Seclusion and Staff Ratios
    • Facility continues to admit patients and are out of ratio; People are racist against white kids and treat them different by making them stay on the unit; They choose favorites to take to groups; Staff friending kids on Facebook when they are discharged; If you do a bad job and say you are leaving you get a raise; Seclusion room has sharp edges; Staff leave patients in seclusion rooms for long times and write that they don’t on paper; Staff radios are not private, can hear other people talking on them.
    • Agency out of ratio on East unit (2:17) during visit. Licensing unfounded the complaints about the seclusion rooms after visiting facility and interviewing 3 children. Licensing founded the complaint about ratio.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Complaint received 03/24/21 alleging shortage of staff for ratio and broken air conditioner. Specialist conducted visit on 3/28/21.

Police Report

Disturbance

Caller advised Juvenile assaulted Staff member at facility. Caller stated they did have to restrain Juvenile the previous day due to Juvenile’s Mother refusing to pick up Juvenile.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Regs out of compliance –
    • R911.6 – Observed hot water in East Unit is not fully functional; Observed that the South/Sprouts and East area’s AC unit was not fully functional. Correction date 3/30/21.
  • Regs not correctable –
    • R907.3 – “Staff shall be in ratio (1:8 waking and 1:8 sleeping hours)”; Observed: West (2:24), North (7:31), South (1:7), East (3:15), Sprout (2:7).

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment – Staff Abuse
    • Resident reported he was pulled out of bed by the ankles and thrown against the wall by staff member. Staff member was suspended pending investigation. Resident assessed, did not have pain or injury.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. After investigator interviewed child, staff member was terminated. No video footage since camera doesn’t point inside the bedroom. Guardian stated that child had a history of making allegations against staff he didn’t like.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • Resident eloped previous night by climbing on awning and going over the fence, then ran to the apartment complex next to facility. Staff immediately followed, restrained, and escorted resident back to facility. Minor scratches from running through wooded area.
    • Specialist was shown new fencing that would be installed on the walkway near the cafeteria so that residents will no longer be able to elope from the lower part of the fence.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Resident hand x-rayed revealing acute fracture of the 5th metacarpal from an incident on 03/13/21 where he punched a wall.
  • Cited for being out of ratio.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Viewed all areas of buildings and grounds. Viewed 2 staff records, 2 children’s records – no concerns. Viewed restraint logs and fire drills. Census 85
  • TA – R911.6 – water leak being repaired in room 412.

Police Report

Disturbance

Caller stating Juvenile was becoming violent after being discharged from facility since no bed was available; Juvenile getting violent with staff. Upon Officer arrival, Staff stated no police action was needed and that they would be conducting a transfer themselves.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment – Staff Abuse Allegation
    • Guardian called hotline to report staff member “grabbing” clients arm and causing a bruise. After completing internal investigation, it was not believed there was any wrongdoing from the staff member. Staff member will not work without direct supervision and will not be allowed to provide any discipline.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted, unsubstantiated.