Independent Living

The Aurora House Independent Living Program (ILP) provides young women ages 16-20 with the skills necessary to become independent productive adults. In a nurturing environment that offers stability, consistency and safety, young women will develop skills including obtaining employment, managing finances and responding appropriately to their own individual needs while becoming productive members of society. The ILP currently has two beds and is based on the successful completion of distinct levels – Orientation through Level III. The ILP is based on the belief that residents are responsible and accountable for their behavior. While progressing through the levels, each resident will be involved in their individualized treatment with individual counseling sessions, groups, weekly house meeting and Level Treatment Plans.

Program Goals

  1. Provide an alternative, residential and therapeutic placement for female juveniles, allowing residents to remain in the community, establish social integration and develop individual productivity.
  2. Support residents in learning skills that will allow them to live productive, independent, and law abiding lives in the community. Skills included are in the areas of employment, finances, education, transportation, shopping, housing, driving, personal and social development.
  3. Encourage the development of socialization skills in order to have positive interactions with family, peers, co-workers, and authority figures. Further, to build a positive support group in the community.
  4. Support residents in identifying and exploring their personal strengths; enhancing their motivation to meet their daily needs.
  5. Obtain full-time employment, positively maintain employment, and save and budget their earned monies.
  6. Complete individual goals that will enhance the resident’s future security, e.g., completing their high school education, exploring higher education, obtaining their driver’s permit and/or license, securing long term housing, and saving a minimum of $2,500.00 in their savings account.
  7. Developing and maintaining a positive attitude and sense of accomplishment while volunteering at their Community Service site, completing their treatment work, working at their job site, and attending school.

Treatment Components

  • Educational & career planning
  • Obtain and maintain employment
  • Community service
  • Money management & consumer awareness
  • Housing
  • Healthy leisure activities
  • Interpersonal skill
  • Transportation
  • Food management
  • Personal appearance
  • Housekeeping
  • Healthy/sexuality
  • Emergency and safety skills
  • Legal skills

Referral 

Formal referral to the Aurora House Independent Living Program is made through the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court or the Dept. of Human Services. Informal inquiries from interested persons may be made by contacting the Aurora House Group Home Manager at 703-248-5288.