Aurora House Citizens' Advisory Committee

AURORA HOUSE GIRLS’ GROUP HOME CITIZEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 05/10/2016 Present: Julia Peterson Rachel Kindell Jamie French MaryBeth Connelly Judith Wheat The minutes of the March 2016 meeting were reviewed and approved. Old Business: (1) Group Home Manager Recruitment: Interviews are underway. The position was re- posted after the first round of candidates were interviewed. (2) Utilization: Utilization remains constant at 11 residents. Three residents discharged, currently there are two on the waiting list. (3) Scholarship application procedures: a. The following procedures were discussed and approved: i. Scholarships will be awarded 2x per year, in July and November. Applications must be submitted by June 15 for the fall semester and October 15 for the spring semester. For 2016 this schedule can be modified to give AH the opportunity to publicize the timing requirements for applying. ii. Scholarships will only be available to girls who attended Aurora House. iii. Scholarships will be considered for attendance at an accredited vocational program, community college, state, or private college or university. Applications to attend a for-profit college will be considered by the Committee, applicants may be required to provide additional justification. iv. Scholarships may be renewed. Renewal applications must be accompanied by a transcript with course information and grades. v. The Committee will consider applications for both prospective admission and tuition reimbursement. For prospective admission, payment will be made directly to the school to pay for tuition, books or supplies, once the recipient provides proof of enrollment. An applicant The City of Falls Church complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in an alternative format upon request. Call 703-248-5005 (TTY 711). The Aurora House • 420 South Maple Avenue • Falls Church, Virginia 22046 TEL 703-237-6622 • FAX 703-237-6624 • www.fallschurchva.gov  can also request reimbursement for tuition, books or supplies, but must provide documentation to support the request, including cost information and successful course completion. b. The revised application (attached) was approved. c. The amount available for scholarships is approximately $20,000 (held by Friends of Argus and Aurora House). (4) New Business: a. Suggestion to invite Robin Robb, new JDR judge, to visit Aurora House b. Suggestion that AH provide more regular updates to the City Council – focusing on the theme that “Aurora House Changes Lives” c. Discussion regarding Advisory Committee Meeting attendance and the need for members to attend in person or remotely at least four (4) meeting a year to ensure a quorum and sufficient presence to conduct business (5) Acting Group Home Manager’s Report: a. AH will be hiring a new part-time weekend counselor to meet the staffing requirements under PREA. b. Monitoring visit from the state expected to occur sometime in May. The City of Falls Church complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in an alternative format upon request. Call 703-248-5005 (TTY 711). The Aurora House • 420 South Maple Avenue • Falls Church, Virginia 22046 TEL 703-237-6622 • FAX 703-237-6624 • www.fallschurchva.gov