Arkansas is subject of the Senate investigation into abuse in youth mental health facilities

WASHINGTON, DC – A two-year Senate investigation into residential treatment facilities for juveniles (RTFs) in Arkansas and other states is calling for comprehensive reforms.

The report, titled “Warehouses of Neglect: How Taxpayers Fund Systematic Abuse in Residential Youth Treatment Facilities,” was released Wednesday and alleges there is a systematic problem with companies that run residential treatment facilities, often providing substandard care while abusing and neglecting children.

Minutes after the report was released, senators condemned the Senate Finance Committee hearing. Disability Rights Arkansas lead attorney Reagan Stanford was called to Washington DC to give key testimony.

“There are countless examples of abuse, violence and neglect in facilities across Arkansas,” Stanford said.

The Senate investigation is 135 pages long and mentions names 189 times. Stanford said children were raped by peers and staff and inappropriately restrained and isolated.

Other witnesses stated that children aged 21 and under were often supervised by staff without adequate training and were not given special individual treatment.

“We have seen firsthand how flawed the RTF model as a whole is, how widespread abuse and neglect are, how little active treatment there is, and how little success it has in providing a therapeutic environment,” Stanford continued.

The report says large RTF operators receive billions of dollars in federal subsidies, including from Medicaid and child welfare agencies.

Based on its findings, the Committee recommends focusing and strengthening oversight of facilities and prioritizing spending on community-based behavioral health services as an alternative to placement in RTFs whenever possible and safe.

Committee chairman Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) says a bill in response to the report’s findings is expected this fall.

KARK has reached out to all 13 RTFs operating in Arkansas for comment on the hearing and investigation. Three have responded as of the time of this report.

Acadia Healthcare was one of four major companies specifically investigated. A spokesman said:

“The patient stories highlighted in the committee’s report are heartbreaking. Our industry can and must improve, especially given the critical role that residential youth treatment centers play in addressing our nation’s mental health crisis. At Acadia, we are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that all patients in Acadia’s care, including those in Arkansas, receive the support and compassionate treatment they deserve. Thousands of youth have been successfully discharged from Acadia’s facilities with great outcomes.

Acadia is a leader in our industry in care improvement initiatives. We have been leveraging new talent, technology, clinical protocols and training across all of our service areas to advance our culture of care for some time. As an industry leader, we will continue to work with policymakers, patient advocates and other industry stakeholders to achieve the absolute best care for our patients. Additionally, please note that the report examines historical incidents dating back nearly five years or more that were publicly reported at the time. These facilities are licensed, accredited and in good standing.”

The centers that operate RTFs in Little Rock and Monticello said:

Another RTF operating in Little Roc, Methodist Family Health, sent this statement: