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

Print this page

PRLU or OLTC

Buildings and Grounds, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Visit conducted from 14:15 – 15:40 with Program Coordinator Chelsea Vardell. Census: 92. Partial walkthrough was conducted due to an increase in Covid-19 cases. Construction on the Annex building is still underway and expected to be completed in mid-August. No licensing concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

  • X-ray (Peer Altercation)
    • Client was hit in the face with a closed fist and kicked in the nose by a peer. Client complained of nose pain; X-ray was ordered. No fractures were seen.
    • Licensing follow-up on 7/22/22: Incident report received. Staff did attempt to intervene.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation, Self-Injury

  • X-ray (Peer Altercation, Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Client had an altercation with a peer on 6/20/22 where client punched a wall and did not report pain until 7/18/22. X-ray was completed on 7/19/22: Fracture to right 5th finger. A cast was applied on 7/19/22, and follow-up appointment scheduled on 8/1/22. Client placed on no sports.
    • Licensing follow-up on 7/22/22: Inquired about nurse’s note from 6/20/22 and incident report. Copy of incident report and nurse’s note received.

Police Report

911 Open Line

Silent open line; On call back, line was picked up and immediately disconnected. Officer made contact with staff, and it was determined a student was messing with the phone.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Not listed.
  • No site visit conducted. Licensing received notification that client and 3 other peers were taken to the nurse’s station by staff to separate them from a disturbance on the East Unit. The client refused to leave the station and was left unattended by staff for “approximately one minute”. The client was able to obtain Benadryl that was left on a cabinet and took an unknown amount (peer reported this to staff). The nurse assessed the client and called poison control. Client was then taken to the ER and administered activated charcoal, clonidine, and IV fluids for dehydration. The facility reports they have changed the locks on the nurse’s doors to ensure that only nurses can access the stations. The staff will not be able to enter a nurse’s station without a nurse present.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

  • ER Visit (Peer Altercation)
    • Residents were playing basketball when client stole the ball from a peer. Peer hit client quickly one time in the face. Client fell to the ground and would not respond to staff for a few minutes. The client was taken to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility reports that the peer was moved to another unit and placed on assault precautions.

Police Report

Disturbance

Staff at Vantage Point advised officers that a juvenile from Piney Ridge was on the roof. Officers made contact with Piney Ridge staff, who stated the juvenile was back in the building.

PRLU or OLTC

ER Visit, Notice of Incident

  • Multiple residents were taken into the nurse’s station by staff to separate them from a conflict on the east unit. Client refused to leave the station, so staff left the client unattended for approx. 1 minute. During that time, the client’s peer reported they saw client grab Benadryl and take an unknown amount. The nurse assessed the client and contacted poison control.
    • Licensing follow-up on 7/11/22: The facility reports they have changed the locks on all nurse station doors so that only nurses can have access to the stations. This was done to prevent any future occurrences of staff using the nurses station as a place to separate residents.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

  • X-ray (Accidental Injury)
    • Client was outside playing on a water slide when the client slid shoulder first into a padded pool. Client complained of shoulder and rib pain. The physician ordered an x-ray to be completed. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Care, Notice of Incident

  • Acute Care
    • Client attempted to tie a pillowcase around their neck and refused to give it to the nurse. The pillowcase was removed, and staff were able to maintain the client’s airway the entire time. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

ER Visit, Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Abscess & Fever)
    • Client was on antibiotics for a possible abscess and fever of 102.7. The mass began to swell slightly larger, and client complained of increased pain. Client taken to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up: Resident will be discharging so all follow up will be communicated to client’s guardian.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • Client bit their lip after returning to the facility from the dentist. Client taken to the ER. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • Client complained of pain in pinky finger after falling outside on 6/19/22. Client was taken to the ER for an x-ray. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

  • ER Visit (Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Client complained of redness to left inner wrist area where client had abrasions from self-harming. The client was taken to the ER for further evaluation.
    • Licensing follow-up on 06/14/22: The facility reports that the resident uses his fingernails to dig into his skin and leave these abrasions.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Not listed.
  • No site visit conducted. Program Coordinator received notification of client allegedly swallowing glass which resulted in a hospital visit. An additional notification was received on 5/19/22 that client, along with a peer, swallowed rocks while outside. Licensing follow-up via email: Staff reported that no glass was found, and that client did swallow rocks in front of staff requiring restraint. Licensing Specialist visited the facility on 5/24/22 and viewed residents and window areas where the client found glass, but no glass was found. The facility instructed the maintenance staff to check drainage ditch in playground area daily for glass and reported they have contacted the city about the drainage ditch. No licensing concerns noted.

Police Report

Assist Agency

Caller reported a resident is aggressive and self-harming; Resident has a cut on forehead due to hitting head on the wall. Resident had got into an argument over who was going to take a shower first and the argument turned physical. After being separated, resident decided to headbutt a door and window, causing a laceration across forehead. Resident was transported by CEMS.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Peer Altercation & Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Client became upset after getting into an altercation with a peer. Client then banged his head on a window, resulting in a laceration to his forehead. Client was taken to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up on 5/27/22: Licensing Specialist emailed the facility to see if there was video footage of the altercation and of the resident hitting his head. The facility reported that no video footage is available of the incident.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit 1 (Swallowed Rocks)
    • Client reported that she swallowed rocks. Client was taken to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up on 5/23/22: Licensing Specialist visited the facility to interview residents.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit 2 (Swallowed Rocks)
    • Client reported that she swallowed rocks. Client was taken to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up on 5/23/22: Licensing Specialist visited the facility to interview residents.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • Client was acting out in the cafeteria, so staff directed client outside to calm down. Once outside, client ran to a fence and broke a slat off, then climbed over to elope from facility grounds. Staff followed client and called the local police department.
    • Client was placed on assault and elopement precautions which will be reassessed in 24 hours. Client will be restricted to the unit which will also be reassessed in 24 hours.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Swallowed Glass)
    • Staff was notified that client had potentially swallowed glass. Client was assessed and sent to the ER.
    • Licensing follow-up on 5/19/22: Specialist emailed facility to determine where the glass came from. Staff reported that it was never observed or determined if the resident actually had glass.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • Client injured his finger during recreation time. X-ray was conducted due to pain and swelling to the finger. No follow-up details.

Police Report

Missing Person

Staff reported juvenile jumped the fence and ran. Juvenile has a big abrasion on his hairline, still actively healing. Staff advised juvenile had just assaulted a peer and then fled, no one following him. A few minutes later, staff reported juvenile came back and they no longer needed police. Officer confirmed juvenile was at facility; CEO stated they never lost sight of him.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • Client fell outside and hit the back of his head on the basketball court. Client was taken to the ER. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • Resident reported that during an altercation with peers, staff kicked him in the head/chest 2-3x.
    • Staff placed on suspension pending investigation as of 9/25/21. Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted, unsubstantiated. Specialist sat in on interviews with DCFS investigator at facility and reviewed copies of the nurse’s notes regarding the injuries that resident sustained. Six residents were interviewed (witnesses) and all reported that they did not see any kick from the staff member to the resident.
  • Maltreatment
    • Resident reported that during an altercation with peers, staff kicked him in the head/chest 2-3x.
    • Staff placed on suspension pending investigation as of 9/25/21. Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted, unsubstantiated. Specialist sat in on interviews with DCFS investigator at facility and reviewed copies of the nurse’s notes regarding the injuries that resident sustained. Six residents were interviewed (witnesses) and all reported that they did not see any kick from the staff member to the resident. Closed as unsubstantiated on 11/10/21 and staff member completed Zero Tolerance training on 11/10/21 and returned to work.