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 rstanford@disabilityrightsar.org

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

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Police Report

Disturbance, Police Report

Officer responded to Youth Home in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, officer made contact with a staff member who advised a resident in her class began interrupting the class and ignoring orders. The staff member stated she asked the resident to be seated, and he said “Bitch make me” and proceeded to aggressively push the staff member while she was seated in her chair.

Secondary teachers proceeded to restrain the resident and walk him out of the classroom. While doing so, the resident hit a classmate on the side of his head with a closed fist. No injuries were reported. T

he resident also assaulted a staff member once in the hallway. The resident was cited for Battery in the 3rd degree and given a court date.

Police Report

Battery, Police Report, Redacted

Officer responded to Youth Home in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, officer made contact with resident involved who stated his classmate called his mother a name and he “snapped”. The resident stated he tackled the classmate and punched him five times in the head. The classmate complained of soreness to the back of his head but stated he was not injured. The resident was arrested and provided with a court date. After he received a court date, the resident was released back to school staff.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

Staff was called out of the room for a situation in another class. Client got up and started walking toward peer stating that he heard peer had been talking about his mother. Staff asked peer to step out in the hall to get him out of the classroom and away from client. Client went around staff and ran out into the hall and started hitting peer in the head. Pulaksi County Sheriff’s Office was called to campus. Per nursing note peer reported no complaints.

PRLU or OLTC

Aggressive Behavior, Notice of Incident

Client was being a disruption and not following directions in the classroom and D-zone staff was asked for assistance. Client proceeded to continue to walk around in the room and threatened the teacher in the class and threatened to hit her and cussed at her. He walked up to her face and pushed her out of her chair and D-zone staff immediately escorted the client from the classroom after that. Client was placed in a personal restraint and continued to fight back and try to get out of the hold. While escorted towards the d-zone, he punched one staff member 2-3 times in the chest after escaping one hand from the hold and was quickly continued to be escorted by staff towards the d-zone. Once calm, client was released but was placed in another restraint due to attempting to exit the d-zone. Client soon calmed down and was released.

Upon assessment, patient has a dime size area of skin abrasion. Patient also states that his fingers are sore on his right hand from hitting the staff. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene to allow staff to make a report/press charges. Patient was cited and released, as well as given a court date.

PRLU or OLTC

Aggressive Self Harm, Notice of Incident

Resident was observed “bowing up” on staff threatening to punch them. Resident was asked what was going on and replied “this place is just like all the others.” Resident began walking around the milieu throwing things off staff’s desks and flipping over furniture. Resident then walked towards the front door and with one kick, kicked it open and went outside. Resident was placed in a personal restraint and escorted back into the house. Resident was released in the comfort room and punched the window. Staff continued talking with him and he was able to calm and be assessed by the nurse. Resident was sent to Urgent Care to have their hand x-rayed. Diagnosis: Right hand sprain.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

Peers were in conflict in class and pt was inserted into the conflict. Pt expressed not wanting to pick sides but a peer charged at pt, swinging fists. Pt raised her fists to fight back. Pt was placed in a personal restraint and escorted away from her peer. Pt began swinging to hit peer several times but once she was guided away from peer, she ceased in attempting to fight. Pt contracted for safety and cried about her head hurting due to being struck by peer. Nurse assessed patient and she was transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for further evaluation and to rule out concussion. Diagnosis: cervical pain, facial injury. Discharged with C-collar. Follow up with AR Children’s Surgery Specialty Nurses for C-spine clearance. CT scan of facial bones showed No acute traumatic findings.

To be noted: She has a splint on her (R) hand/arm following punching the wall at some point over the weekend/Monday. Urgent Care findings: Right hand swelling and tenderness to touch, no fracture.

Youth Home Actions that might have prevented injury: If staff had called for help, perhaps additional staff could’ve helped separate the class sooner. However, multiple pts were escalated in the school at the time, making help difficult to come by.

PRLU or OLTC

Aggressive Behavior Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Resident became aggressive after learning she would be transferred to an acute facility. The resident tried to rush past staff, continuing to escalate and was placed in a restraint. The resident attempted to strike staff and claw at their hands. MEMs was called and transported the resident to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for evaluation before transporting her to acute care.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Resident complained of blurry vision and dizziness after hitting her head on a door. The resident was assessed by nursing. Poor cognition noted. Seizure-like presentation noted. MEMS was notified and transported the resident to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

Police Report

Disturbance, Police Report

Officers responded to the facility regarding a disturbance. Staff advised officers that a resident was hitting staff and would not follow instructions. Officers stood by to contact EMS transport if necessary.

Police Report

Disturbance, Police Report

Officers responded to the facility regarding a disturbance. Staff told officers that a resident would not comply with rules, threw objects, and attempted to hit staff. Officers requested MEMs to transport the resident to acute care.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self Harm Acute Placement

Resident became dysregulated and began displaying unsafe behavior. Resident attempted to put a broken rubber hair band around her neck to choke herself. She began climbing and jumping off furniture in a reckless manner. Resident was restrained after trying to break a popsicle stick after displaying unsafe behavior. Resident got into her peers’ belongings and tried to remove them. Staff continued verbal de-escalation.

Resident was transported by MEMs to Pinnacle Pointe for an acute stay. She will return to Youth Home once she discharges from acute.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

While walking back to the house from dinner, a resident and two peers rushed by staff in an effort to elope. The resident was later brought back to the facility by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. The resident was assessed by nursing. Multiple scratches to both legs and arms were noted. No open bleeding was noted. Respirations were even and unlabored. Fluid intake was encouraged to prevent dehydration. The resident was placed on run risk, house restriction, and freeze.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

While walking back to the house from dinner, a resident and two peers rushed by staff in efforts to elope. The resident was later brought back to the facility by Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Resident was assessed by nursing. Multiple pink scratches and bug bites noted on legs. No open bleeding was noted. No bruising.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

While walking back to the house from dinner, a resident and two peers rushed by staff in effort to elope. The resident was later brought back to the facility by Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Resident was assessed by nursing. Two small scratches were found on the left forearm. Breathing was regular and unlabored. Liberal fluid intake was encouraged to prevent dehydration.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Resident became upset about remaining on freeze. She went to her room and closed the door. Staff opened the door and sat outside of the room to ensure that the resident didn’t close the door again. The resident began pulling her hair out and kicking staff. Staff restrained the resident, but once she was released, she continued to escalate. The resident ripped a shower curtain off and swung and struck a staff member with the shower rod. Resident was placed in another restraint. Staff continued to offer support. After being released, the resident attempted to barricade herself in her room. She also attempted to kick a door down. She began hitting her head on the wall and then experienced a fainting-like episode.

Resident was transported to acute care by MEMs.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator reviewed camera footage of the incident. Staff were observed keeping the resident safe.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

A Resident became anxious and began to display a seizure-like episode. Resident had intermittent episodes of muscle rigidity, gurgling, and shaking. Airway remained clear. A one-time dose of diazepam gel was given by the nurse.

EMS was called to transport the resident to Arkansas Children’s Hospital and later returned to the facility with new orders.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Resident reported that he swallowed a spring he found in his room. Resident was assessed by nursing then sent to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for further evaluation. He later returned to campus—no visible signs or symptoms of distress. Resident continues to be on Front of House (FOH) and Eyeball.

Facility reported to Licensing that they are still going through camera footage, but no footage has been found to indicate where the resident found the spring.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

A resident reported swallowing a screw. No signs of hoarseness, coughing, gagging, retching, drooling, nausea, or vomiting. Clear lung sounds in all lobes—no signs of oropharynx obstructions. Resident denies pain. Resident is NPO (nothing by mouth) while he remains under close observation.

Resident was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for further evaluation and later returned to the facility. Resident remains on Eyeball and Front of House.

The facility reported that maintenance is removing wooden furniture from the resident’s bedroom to make it more difficult to acquire screws.

Police Report

Disturbance, Police Report

Officers responded to the facility regarding an aggressive juvenile. Staff stated that the resident became angry and began to “tear up everything.” Staff stated that the resident started pushing and punching her in the back. Staff stated that she did not want to press charges. Officers made contact with the resident and advised the resident that they could be in trouble if the behavior continues.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Resident became upset after an altercation with her roommate and began punching a wall. Afterward, the resident was transported to Urgent Care for evaluation of her hand.

Diagnosis: Swelling and bruising to right hand. No fracture was found on the x-ray.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Resident complained of pain after hitting her head while doing a backbend. Resident was assessed and then transported to the emergency room for further evaluation.

PRLU or OLTC

Neglect, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

A resident was left alone and unattended in the house while her housemates went to lunch. The resident was found by a nurse entering the house.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator reviewed camera footage of the incident. Per camera footage, the resident was left alone for a little more than 2 minutes. Staff members involved in the incident received written warnings. were required to review the policy and were coached verbally.

The facility was cited for 907.2

Police Report

Disturbance, Police Report

Officers responded to the facility in reference to a disturbance. A resident had an outburst and was kicking and headbutting staff members. Officers provided facility staff with a report number and left the scene.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Resident became upset after learning she was not on the list to go on an outing and began kicking and banging her head on the wall. Afterward, the resident complained of pain in her right hand, so she was transported to the emergency room for evaluation.

Diagnosis: Right hand injury. No evidence of fracture.

Resident returned to the facility with orders to rotate Tylenol and ibuprofen and use ice packs for pain.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator completed buildings and grounds for Hickory House. Census: 44.

The following areas were observed: day/common area, milieu, nurse’s office, kitchen, laundry room, storage closet, staff offices, linen closet, bedrooms, bathrooms, dining area, comfort room, seclusion room, and game room.

Program Coordinator observed two water fountains and tree fire extinguishers in cases in different areas of the house, as well as, smoke detectors in each bedroom and other areas of the house. The evacuation plan was located on the wall near the milieu. Interior painting has been completed throughout the entire house.