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

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Redacted, Visit Compliance Report

Resident reported that a staff member had let her and a peer use her nicotine vape on more than one occasion. Staff member was suspended. A report was made to the AR Child Abuse Hotline and accepted. Resident reported these incidents occurred in an area of the facility that does not have cameras.

Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell

Licensing spoke with staff concerning the residents having access to employee’s personal belongings. The facility has implemented new policies concerning personal belongings being placed in a secure location while on the floor.

CACD case was found unsubstantiated.

Facility reported to Licensing that the staff member would receive additional training on boundaries and zero tolerance for any type of abuse. 10/9/24 – Licensing followed up regarding retraining for staff, and the facility reported that the employee was not retrained as they are no longer working at the facility. This complaint has been unfounded by Licensing.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint, Notice of Incident, Redacted, Visit Compliance Report

Licensing received complaint that a resident at the facility did not receive appropriate medical care on numerous occasions, such as: taking his blood pressure as directed by his Neurologist, didn’t provide his special diet, did not ask guardian for ID when resident was discharged, and that the resident has escaped numerous times.

Reporter stated the resident reported that while being transported to Fostering Change, the facility transporter allowed him to use his vape and play games on his phone, and he saw pornography on his phone and that he was a pedophile. This reportedly occurred on 6/5/24.

Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell

Licensing inquired if the facility was aware of the facility transporter allegation, and facility staff stated that the allegation “was shared by his therapist supposedly to another therapist that he stated something pertaining to a vape and/or phone access. This was brought up verbally days after the fact, but was still not documented by the person who received it which questioned the validity of reported topic.”

Facility was informed of the allegation on 7/2/24 when an investigator visited the facility. CACD investigated this complaint and it was unsubstantiated (07/02/24 Notice of Incident).

Complaint unfounded by Licensing.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Redacted, Sexual Maltreatment, Visit Compliance Report

Resident reported to staff that a staff member took pictures and videos of him, showed him nude pictures of herself, allowed the resident to speak with her sister on the phone, has been bringing him food and candy and that staff member asked the resident if he was a virgin and made an inappropriate comment about oral sex.

Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell

8/13/24 – Licensing visited the facility to review video footage of 3 separate timeframes on 8/8/24.

23:00-23:18, Staff can be seen on her phone regularly and showing the resident things on her phone periodically.

23:37-23:56, Staff and resident can be seen sitting in the hallway and exchanging a sticky note, staff was seen getting an earbud from her pocket that the resident had given to her, and staff can be seen giving resident what appeared to be bags of snacks.

13:06-13:09, Staff and resident can be seen entering the laundry room which is not on camera. It is unknown what took place in the laundry room.

Facility stated staff are not supposed to be on their phones for extended periods of time or have personal belongings while working, nor was the resident supposed to be out of his room during sleeping hours. Licensing requested all staff be retrained. Licensing reviewed witness statements.

8/15/24 – The staff member was arrested for Sexual Indecency with a Child and is no longer employed with the facility.

CACD case found true. Complaint was founded by Licensing. Citation issued for 109.1.g: A staff person engaged in unprofessional conduct with a resident.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Facility received a complaint that involved a former resident. The complaint alleged that staff would give vapes, dap bens with cannabis, cigarettes, lighters, and cell phones to the residents. The contraband was hidden along the fence line.

Also alleged was that staff would allow residents to fight in areas with no cameras, that staff showed inappropriate videos to the residents, and that staff would threaten to write residents up, falsifying restraint papers, to get residents in trouble.

Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell

Licensing Specialist visited the facility to complete a full walkthrough of the facility’s outdoor area, inspecting areas along the fence and outdoor areas accessible to the residents. No contraband was found during the inspection.

This complaint has been Unfounded by Licensing.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Resident complained of pain in his groin after falling on the steps of the playground area. Resident was assessed, then sent to the emergency hospital for further evaluation.

Diagnosis: Perineal/groin hematoma

Resident was discharged with orders for rest, ice, Tylenol, and ibuprofen.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Sexual Contact, Visit Compliance Report

Resident reported that his roommate told him their other roommate licked the resident’s penis while he was sleeping. The accused roommate denied the incident but was placed in a single room while the investigation was pending.

Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell

Licensing Specialist (LS) visited the facility in response to the incident. LS spoke with facility staff to discuss the complaint and safety plan implemented by the facility. The resident was interviewed. The resident does not know if the incident occurred, because he was told by the witness that the incident happened while he was asleep.

This complaint has been Unfounded by Licensing.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

Resident walked away from staff while outside with her unit. She ignored staff directions to return and squeezed through the gate into the parking lot and made her way to the main road. Staff continued to walk with her, urging her to return. The resident returned to the facility 28 minutes later.

Resident was placed on elopement precautions.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Resident rolled off the top bunk while sleeping, resulting in a laceration to his left eyelid. He was transported to the emergency room due to dizziness after the fall, where he was treated.

Resident will follow up with the facility APRN as needed.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Resident was injured while playing football. Resident tripped, hitting his head on a pole. The incident resulted in a laceration above his left eyebrow and a chipped tooth.

The resident was transported to the emergency room for treatment. Afterward, he returned to the facility. An appointment with a dentist is being scheduled.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

Resident was involved in an altercation with his peer, in which he was hit in the face. Resident was assessed for injuries by nursing. The altercation resulted in the resident receiving a chipped tooth. A follow-up appointment with the dentist will be scheduled.

Residents were separated and placed on assault precautions.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

Resident being admitted to the facility eloped from the facility before admission was completed. Police were immediately notified. A nurse driving home later that evening saw the resident on the side of the highway.

Police were contacted, and they were able to retrieve the resident and return him to the facility unharmed. The resident was placed on elopement precautions.

Police Report

Elopement, Police Report

Officers responded to a report of a missing juvenile who eloped when arriving at the facility. Officers record the subject as missing.

Police Report

911 Hang Up, Police Report

A 911 call was received from the facility. Facility staff advised officers it was a false alarm.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Facility received a complaint that a staff member gave his vape to a resident to use while on a transport to a medical appointment.

Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell

7/3/24: Licensing Specialist visited the facility to initiate the complaint and discuss the allegations with facility staff. A witness statement from a staff member present on the day of the incident was requested. The facility provided the Licensing Specialist with a Corrective Action Plan (CAP).

7/5/24: Facility CAP is approved. 7/10/24: Licensing Specialist contacted the facility to inquire about training for staff member associated with this incident. Staff members received one hour of coaching and direction from the facility’s Risk Department.

This complaint has been Unfounded by Licensing.

Police Report

911 Hang Up, Police Report

Officers responded to the facility regarding a 911 hang-up call. Nursing staff advised officers that it was a false alarm.

Police Report

911 Hang Up, Police Report

Officers responded to the facility regarding a 911 hang-up call. An employee advised officers that the call was accidental.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Resident reported that he injured his hand by hitting a wall during poor sportsmanship.

An x-ray was completed. Diagnosis: Fracture of the right 4th and 5th metacarpals, nondisplaced

Resident will be seen by Ozark Orthopedics. He currently is unable to participate in sports due to the injury.

Police Report

Elopement, Police Report

Officers responded to a report of a missing juvenile. Before officers arrive at the facility, facility staff report that the juvenile has been recovered.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

A resident was hit in the face by a peer during an altercation. The resident reported that he lost consciousness after being hit. He was sent to Physicians’ Specialty Hospital Emergency Room for evaluation.

Diagnosis: Facial Contusion and concussion

The resident will be unable to participate in sports for 3 days. He received orders for ice and ibuprofen as needed for pain.

7/3/24: A visit by Licensing was conducted to review the video of the incident. Safety plans and medical follow-up were also reviewed. Both residents have been separated, and the aggressor was placed on precautions.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

While the resident was playing kickball for Recreational Therapy, he slipped out of his shoe and then complained of knee pain. Upon initial assessment, he was able to move his knee without pain but did complain of his lower right leg hurting. APRN was notified and the resident was taken to Ozark Orthopedics for evaluation.

Diagnosis: Closed fracture to the distal fibula, 5th metatarsal bone

The resident was put in a cast and will have a follow-up appointment on 07/01/2024. The resident may participate in no sports until further orders are received.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Resident heard a pop in his ankle as he jumped down from an awning he had climbed to retrieve a football.

At assessment, the resident’s left ankle was noted to be extremely swollen, so he was taken to urgent care for an x-ray.

Diagnosis: Non-displaced fracture to the tibia

The resident was placed in a cast and will follow up with Ozark Orthopedics.

Police Report

Indecent Exposure, Police Report

Officers responded to a complaint that two employees were having intercourse outside along the fence between Piney Ridge and Vantage Point. Gone on arrival.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Resident reported to staff that approximately a week prior, he almost fell outside, and now he is having pain in his left foot. An x-ray was performed in-house, but the results were not clear. The resident was taken to Ozark Orthopedic for examination.

Diagnosis: 5th metatarsal base fracture – avulsion fracture.

Resident will wear a boot and follow up in 4 weeks.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Sexual Contact Forced, Visit Compliance Report

Resident reported that he was awoken by one of his roommate’s groping his private area over clothing and over his blankets while he was sleeping. The resident noticed his other roommate watching the interaction from his bed. The resident told his roommate to get off him. The roommate immediately stopped and got back into his bed with no further incident. The next morning, the resident’s other roommate stated he was the one who told the other roommate to grope the resident. The roommate denied that any sexual behavior occurred. The residents were separated and the roommate was moved to a single room to be assessed at a later date.

Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell

LS Parnell spoke to facility staff regarding the incident. The facility stated there is no video footage available for review. LS Parnell requested bed check logs.

This complaint has been Unfounded by Licensing.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist (LS): Jarred Parnell

A buildings and grounds walkthrough was completed for the facility. All units and areas were inspected for safety and maintenance. All areas inside the units and the sleeping areas were inspected.

MARs were reviewed. All records were complete.