Disability Rights Arkansas

Youth Home

*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: Little Rock, AR

Population Served: Adolescents 12-17 years of age in need of mental health services on a 24 hour a day basis.

# of residents per unit: 12 Residents per room: 1-2 Capacity: 54

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Kids have daily contact with their family either via zoom, face time calls, or phone calls. In the evening they are given time to call families and their families are welcome to call anytime during the day. Outside of Covid-19 Restrictions families can visit on the weekends and once during the week.

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

Treatment Components:

Clinical Director – LPC

Therapists: 8 full-time therapists (4 LAC, 3 LCSW, 1 LPE-1); 1 part-time/contract therapists (1 LCSW)

Treatment modalities offered: EMDR, TF-CBT, ARC, Brain Spotting, Trauma-Focused Family Therapy, Reactive Attachment Multi-Family Group

# of individual therapy sessions/week: 2-3x/week

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: 2-4x/week

# of family therapy sessions/week: 1x/week

Print this page

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client was prompted to put away her markers due to not being able to have them while being on eyeball. Client then began to pick at her fingers and was prompted many times to stop. Client then made her finger bleed and went onto pulling another scab and causing it to bleed as well.

Client was placed in a restraint and became very violent. Client was then taken to seclusion. Client began to scratch at staff and made several attempts to bite staff. Client began to kick at staff during this time as well and made attempts to hit her head against the floor repeatedly.

5/17/24, Licensing Specialist reviewed provider reported incident for licensing concerns. Sent email to facility to request nursing notes for resident.

5/20/24, Uploaded and reviewed nursing notes from incident. Emailed facility to inquire if resident is expected to return to the facility.

5/20/24, Facility response: At this time, she will return to our PRTF program.

Police Report

Disturbance, Police Report

Officers were dispatched to Youth Home to assist EMS with transport of resident to acute care.

Police Report

911 Hang Up, Police Report

Officers were dispatched to Youth Home regarding a 911 hang up call. Officers made contact with staff who informed them that all was well. No need for a law enforcement response.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Patient was eating lunch when he began choking on some potato chips. Staff performed the heimlich maneuver, dislodging the chips. Orders were given to transport patient to Arkansas Children’s Hospital ER for evaluation.

Resident returned from ER. Prescribed Maalox or other heartburn medicine for pain control if needed.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client became upset after witnessing a peer elope into woods. Client began picking up desks and throwing them, then charged at a door, pushing through staff. Client was placed in a personal restraint. Client was able to get out of staff hold and run toward D zone. Client escalated and threw trash can, ran out of the D zone, and began punching door, breaking the glass. Client kicked open the door and walked away from staff towards the road, hitting himself in the head.

Client was encouraged to decompress, slow his breathing, and asked what he needed. Client began to calm down and complied with staff and was released out of the restraint and escorted to the D-zone.

Client was assess by the nurse. Upon examination, no physical markings were noted, and the patient reported no injuries from the restraint, declining medication. Staff informed the nurse that the patient began hitting himself in the head while walking away. Another face-to-face assessment, along with a neuro exam, occurred at 1448, revealing the patient to be conscious, alert, aware, and oriented x4 with a steady gait.

Orders given: Freeze, HR, RR, and hydroxyzine 25 mg PRN BID

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

LS Norton visited the facility to review video footage. No citations given.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client complained to staff of a sore hand. Client stated that after a bad phone call w/ mother she went to her room and punched the wall.

Upon assessment, the right knuckles are swollen and beginning to turn purple. Client tells this nurse that she has trouble feeling ends of fingers. Client sent to urgent care per provider on call.

Diagnosis: Contusion to hand. No fracture. Ice/compression recommended for at least 20 min per day, rest recommended. Splint given. Ibuprofen as needed for pain.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Elopement, Notice of Incident

Resident left the dinner line and exited the front of the administration building, walking toward a neighbor’s home. As staff looked for the resident, they were waved down by a neighbor. The resident stood in the neighbor’s foyer, stating that she could not go back to the facility.

Staff processed with her, and they returned to the facility. Resident was placed on house restriction and transported to acute care.

Licensing contacted facility to obtain a copy of the nursing notes, to inquire about video footage and ratio.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm, Visit Compliance Report

Client had a bad phone call with her parents and was upset because of her conversations with peers. Client began to pace back and forth and started to kick the door down to plan an escape. Client was redirected to stop kicking the door. Client then charged as though to strike another client. Staff stepped between clients to avoid this conflict. Becoming more angry, Client grabbed electronic cords, and tried to wrap them around her neck. Staff grabbed the cords and prevented client from wrapping them around her neck. Client was redirected to sit in the milieu and offered to have a talk away from others in the recreation room.

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

5/2/24 – Facility visited in response to incident. Camera footage reviewed. Resident was observed grabbing some loose wires from a computer and attempting to place the wires around her neck. Staff were observed removing the wires from the resident’s hands and trying to verbally de-escalate.

  • Facility cited 911.15.d (Areas used by children shall be designed, constructed, and furnished to reduce risk of suicide and assault).

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client was exhibiting aggressive behavior after he returned from school. After ramming a chair into staff’s desk, client was placed in a personal restraint. Once released, he began beating on the door of his room. Client left his room, but was advised to return to his room. When he refused, he was placed into another personal restraint. During this restraint, client began struggling, cursing, and kicking staff. Clients shoes were removed. Client was released from restraint and taken to locked seclusion. Client began screaming and stated that staff had scratched him. Client began banging on the window, then tried to put his bracelet around his neck. Client was placed in another restraint, so the bracelet could be removed. Client was placed back into locked seclusion but was unable to calm down. He continued to yell, hit the door, and hit himself, growing more unstable. Client was sent for acute placement. Per facility, client will not be returning upon his discharge from acute care.

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

4/25/24 – Facility visited in response to incident. Camera footage was reviewed, which showed personal restraints used and resident being placed in the seclusion room due to aggressive behavior toward staff. No citations issued as a result of this incident.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Patient was playing football and tripped and fell while running, injuring his leg. Nurse assessed patient and determined he should be seen by an Urgent Care physician. Urgent Care staff examined patient and advised Youth Home staff to take patient to the ER due to the severity of his injury. Staff transported patient to the ER. Patient diagnosed with contusion of Left knee. X-ray of knee was normal. Care instructions included RICE therapy for 48 hours (Rest, ice, compression, and elevate) and PRN pain medication as needed.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

While playing a recreational activity, the patient threw a football, irritating his left hand leaving it unable to move. After seeing the nurse and being advised by the doctor, staff were advised to transport patient to Urgent Care at around 2:45 pm. Patient returned from UC visit with left hand/wrist wrapped with ace wrap. UC advised to put patient on activity limit/ice/ibuprofen/ace wrap. No fracture was found on X-ray.

Police Report

Theft

Deputy was given a telephone number in reference to theft of property. ​​Upon calling,​ staff reported that the Youth Home recently purchased Apple iPad Pros 11 inch (3rd generation) for each student last August. Inventory inspection for the iPads was recently conducted, and they noticed there was an iPad missing from one of the teacher’s rooms.​​ Deputy advised staff to track the missing iPad using Find My iPad. Staff advised if she have any successful results,​ she would contact Deputy LeFlore on his personal cellular device.

Police Report

Battery

Officer was dispatched to facility in reference to a battery. Upon arrival, officer was advised that the complainant was at the Sheriff’s Office and wanted a deputy to take photographs of his child, who was currently at Youth Home. The complainant advised that his child was assaulted by another resident on 4/2/24.

While on scene at Youth Home, officer made contact with the victim, who stated that another resident struck her twice in the back of the head with a closed fist, leaving a knot. The victim stated the incident occurred 4/2/24 around 1615 hours. The accused resident was involved in a confrontation with someone else, but when they walked past the victim, they punched the victim twice in the back of the head, unprovoked. The incident occurred with staff members present. The victim stated that the incident left her with pain and feeling dizzy. The victim advised that she did not feel pain anywhere else, and there were no obvious bruises on her.

On 4/4/24, officers responded to Youth Home for follow up. Information was added to the report due to the victim’s father wishing to pursue charges.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Patient reported to the nurse that he slipped on a bedsheet next to his bed last night and lost his balance, which led to him falling onto his bed and jamming his hand onto the plastic bed frame while trying to catch himself. Patient reported soreness to his left hand, and the nurse noted an abrasion and purple discoloration to his hand. Client was taken to Urgent Care and diagnosed with contusion of left hand. Radial gutter splint applied to left forearm, wrist and digits. Client was placed on activity limit and will have a follow up appointment in two weeks (possible hairline fracture). Client was diagnosed with contusion and MCP sprain at follow up appointment. No fracture noted.

Medicaid Inspection of Care

Corrective Action Plan, Inspection of Care Report

Multiple deficiencies were noted during the Inpatient Psychiatric Inspection of Care (IOC) conducted on 03/13/24.

Police Report

Elopement

On 3/13/24,​ at approximately 1916 hours,​ officers responded to Youth Home in regards to two runaway juveniles. ​Upon arrival,​ officers canvassed the area and spoke with Youth Home employees. Officers were unable to locate the juveniles. A staff member advised that at approximately 1912 hours, she was allowing the boys that resided in the Sturgis House to play basketball outside. Staff stated that both juveniles took off running toward Colonel Glenn Rd. ​Staff then notified her supervisor who notified 911. Youth Home employees then canvassed the area as well, but were unable to locate the boys.

On 3/14/24,​ at approximately 1837 hours, officer​ was informed by dispatch that the juveniles had been located by Benton PD. Benton PD advised they had both juveniles, who an officer was able to locate behind the Urban Air Park located in Benton with the help of one of the juvenile’s Grandmother. Both juveniles were transported back to the Youth Home where they were relinquished into their custody.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

On 3/13/24 at approximately 7:50pm, 2 residents eloped from the facility courtyard area. Both were seen running across Colonel Glenn, then going behind a house and into the woods. Staff continued to search and were unable to find the residents. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded and took a report. The safety plan for when/if the residents return to Youth Home campus is: Run Risk and House Restrictions.

Facility reported the residents were returned to the facility on 3/14/24 at 7:20pm by law enforcement. Program Coordinator requested and reviewed the police report.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Patient caught a football that was thrown by another peer and hurt her finger (suspected to be jammed). Nurse assessed patient and noted swelling to her finger. Ibuprofen provided for pain. Nurse assessed patient on 3/15/24 and patient was taken to Urgent Care. Diagnosis: Vular plate avulsion fracture. Patient’s finger was placed in a splint and ace wrap. Patient will have a follow-up appointment at Ortho Arkansas on 03/20/24.

Police Report

Medical

Officer responded to Youth Home ​in reference to a medical emergency. Upon arrival, staff informed officer that patient had a seizure. ​MEMS ​and West Pulaski Fire Department arrived on scene. ​The nurse advised the patient does not have a history of seizures,​ however,​ he stated she ​has a history of behavioral issues that mimic seizures. ​MEMS ​transported her to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. ​

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Patient was playing outside behind the administration building with peers and reported shortness of breath, body aches, and weakness. Forehead was damp with perspirations. Patient laid on the ground with shallow breathing and nurse was alerted to respond to assess. After five minutes, patient was escorted with assistance to the house.

While at the house, patient’s pulse and blood pressure declined to unremarkable ranges. Patient became totally unresponsive to questioning of staff and MEMS was notified. MEMS arrived and patient remained unresponsive throughout care while visible. Patient was transported Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Diagnosis: Syncope. Patient returned to Youth Home in the evening on 3/3/24.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Patient reported to nurse that she was playing outside with peers and a ball struck her finger, causing some discomfort. Nurse assessed the patient and provided comfort measures and monitoring. Bruising developed overnight, and patient was taken to Urgent Care for evaluation. Diagnosis: Fracture to finger. Patient instructed to wear splint and will follow-up with Ortho Arkansas.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Staff contacted a nurse to speak with the patient because she refused to leave her peer’s doorway. After refusing staff redirections, staff ultimately took the patient out of the doorway and led her into seclusion. While in seclusion, the patient was placed in a personal restraint after she began biting herself and banging her head against the wall. When the nurse requested if she could look at the self-inflicted bite wounds, the patient refused, so staff placed her in another personal restraint so the nurse could examine her. Shortly later, the on-call therapist arrived to try to speak with the patient. However, the patient was not willing to talk. Patient exited the isolation room and began roaming the home. The patient attempted to run into the laundry area, but was restrained briefly before being placed in lock isolation. While in lock seclusion, she was placed in another personal restraint after she began hitting on the window. The patient eventually calmed down and was freed. No injuries or pain noted. Patient was transferred to Rivendell Behavior Health facility due to unstable behaviors.

3/4/2024 – Licensing inquired of property damage and if the resident returned to Youth Home. Facility reported to Licensing that the resident tried to tear the laundry room door off the hinges, and reported the resident returned to the facility from her acute stay.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

While heading back to Siebert School to change classes, client and her class were redirected about picking up pinecones, sticks, and more that were on the ground and also about throwing those items at one another. A peer accidentally hit client in her left eye with a stick. Client was assessed by a nurse and taken to Urgent Care to have her eye further evaluated. Diagnosis: Corneal abrasion. Client prescribed Polytrim eye drops x7 days.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Sexual Contact, Visit Compliance Report

As residents were headed back to the house from the cafe, client got out of line and walked up to her peer and grabbed her butt inappropriately. After grabbing her butt, she proceeded to slap her on the butt. The peer turned around in disbelief. Staff then told client to step out of line to talk to her about her actions. A report was made to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline (accepted). Both residents stay in the same residential house, but provisions have been put in place. They are not going to have access to each other and must remain 6 feet apart.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Investigator Johnson informed Program Coordinator that she interviewed the resident who reported that her and peer were horseplaying and no harm was done.

4/5/24 – CACD investigation was unsubstantiated. Licensing complaint was unfounded.

Police Report

Disturbance

Officer responded to Youth Home in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, staff advised officer that a student became upset during class and began throwing items around the room. Staff stated they restrained the student before deputies arrived without incident. Officer made contact with the student who advised he was alright.