Aurora House Citizens' Advisory Committee

AURORA HOUSE GIRLS’ GROUP HOME CITIZEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES DATE OF MEETING: January 14, 2020 PLACE OF MEETING: Aurora House MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Julia Peterson at 6:15 p.m. THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Christina Goodwin Rachel Kindell Julia Peterson, Chair Nancy Vincent Mariam Garriga City Council Liaison Mary Beth Connelly Others Present: None GROUP HOME MANAGER’S REPORT – Attached. The majority of placements are foster care with more placements coming from Alexandria. The home is in need of new computers. OLD BUSINESS: Status of scholarship fund – Money continues to come in from the fundraiser. Members will plan an annual event. They would like to devise a communication plan in order to raise community awareness about the scholarship. Members asked that the scholarship application be revised to add grades and a request to submit transcripts. Study of Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center – Consultants are finalizing a report that will be presented to Falls Church, Arlington, and Alexandria. They conducted a cost/benefit analysis for the facility in order to determine the value of continuing services at that facility or contracting with another juvenile detention center. There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Nancy Vincent  MANAGER’S REPORT January 14, 2020 1) Aurora House Scholarship – The United Bank Scholarship checking account has a balance of $12,225 as of today. The Scholarship fund with the Arlington Community Foundation has a balance of $4,989 as of 9/30/19. Aurora House received a check today from Dennis and Kathleen Wright in the amount of $200.00 that will be sent to Courtney McCarthy. 2) Virginia Family First – New Federal Requirements – Group Homes serving youth and young adults will be trained on new federal requirements and impacts on group homes. The federal requirements including the following: a. Accreditation as a Qualified Residential Treatment Program b. Trauma informed treatment model c. A 6-month period of support after discharge d. A new layer of regulation and auditing e. Accredited nursing and clinical staff being on site or available 24/7. 3) Utilization –We currently have 5 residents with four potential referrals. 4) Staffing – We are currently recruiting for the Residential Supervisor, Residential Counselor, and Relief Counselor position. We are seeking to recruit more Spanish speaking staff.