Aurora House Citizens' Advisory Committee

Aurora House Citizen’s Advisory Committee 11/13/2014 Attendees: Ms. Judy Wheat Ms. Marybeth Connelly, City of Falls Church, City Council Member Ms. Christina Goodwin, city of Falls Church, Liaison Ms. Julia Peterson Ms. Donna Ahart, Aurora House, Program Manager Ms. Valeria McMillan, Aurora House, Senior Administrative Assistant 1. Call to Order 2. Old Business: No old business to discuss. 3. Review of minutes from last meeting – Minutes Approved. 4. Group Home Manager’s Report a. Program/facility updates i.Holiday Open House Event – Wednesday, 12/10/14 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. New agenda than previous years; open house will be extended to include new stakeholders and referral sources to visit and learn about the program and services. ii.Computers for Residents – ongoing challenges; desperately need 4 new/operable PC’s for residents’ school work. Hurdles – cannot use staff computers with flash drives, and PC’s are separate from City systems for IT service/maintenance. iii.Preparing for Certification in March – Self-Audit planned for first week of December. iv.Program’s family therapist/mental health clinician is completing the training curriculum by January for certification as specialist in area of trauma; direct care/counseling staff and supervisors are completing a two day training “Trauma & Youth; Understanding the impact of Trauma and Shared Learning Collaborative” – continue developing a trauma informed structured program of care (trauma informed treatment) The Aurora House • 420 South Maple Avenue • Falls Church, Virginia 22046 703-237-6622 • 703-237-6624 FAX • www.fallschurchva.gov  b. Initiatives to Address Utilization i.Proposed – CSA Contract with Arlington County. Will expand the program’s ability to serve broader scope of clients who are at risk of entering foster care (foster care prevention); Placements will continue to be made through the Court, but referrals may be generated through Arlington County Dept. of Human Services (Child and family services) a) Alternative to out of home/out of jurisdiction placements, and increasing the use of community based resources and family involvement, b) Also, accepting Arlington Co. DHS foster care client(s) who have been placed in foster homes or RTC facilities outside Arlington County at significantly higher per diem costs. ii.Proposed – CSA Contract with Fairfax County. Applications to become a CSA provider are accepted in January. Serving similar population/circumstance as with Arlington Co. DHS; clients identified in Fairfax County within a specific section of school districts within 10 miles of facility; (those clients who need a higher level of supervision, structure and community based therapeutic services while maintaining enrollment in public school system. c. Budget i.Preliminary Budget Estimate sent to Arlington County in October. ii.Currently have a vacant FT position that is not being filled while utilization is low, but have added two new relief staff. Low Utilization (53%) for FY14 will be an issue for Arlington County in the new budget cycle; per diem cost increases with decreased use; placements through CSA d. Scholarships – No new scholarship applications received. 5. New Business a. CAC Chairperson: Linda Neighborgall has temporarily served as Chair, but cannot continue; new appointment of CAC chair will be on New Business in January. b. Residents’ computer needs: City Council Member, Ms. Marybeth Connelly, will contact the FCCS to see if they can obtain computers from the schools for the residents of Aurora House. c. Falls Church Tree-Fest: Falls Church City Liaison, Ms. Christina Goodwin, suggested Aurora House participate in the first ever Falls Church Tree-Fest. The purpose of the event is to benefit multiple non-profit groups who provide benefits and services to some segment of the Falls Church community. 6. Next Meeting Date: 01/08/2015 The Aurora House • 420 South Maple Avenue • Falls Church, Virginia 22046 703-237-6622 • 703-237-6624 FAX • www.fallschurchva.gov