09-28-09 Common Council Meeting Agenda & Packet

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2 the State's Department of Child Services (DCS). The girls that would live at the Group Home would already be in custody of the State. The State, through their various Child Service programs, would have determined that the girls existing parents or guardians are not presently suitable to provide the supervision required for the girls' wellbeing. The Group Home would be run under the Hope House Organization with the State Department of Child Services overseeing that facility meets their strict standards and guidelines. The Petitioners have chosen Ruth Brammer and her spouse, John Newell to be the Group homes' House parents. They would lave at the home and would supervise the girls' daily activities. The Group Home will offer treatment placement, which means that prior to being accepted as a resident, each girl would go through an admission process including an interview to ensure they meet the Group Homes' and Hope House criteria. The gir15 would not be admitted if they have had previous tendencies towards suicidal thoughts, or have had any previous gang affiliations, or any severe emotional issues that would require an intense secured environment. The girls would be capable of attending local schools, and socializing appropriately within the community. The Group Homes' House parents would teach the girls skills such as social manners, cooking, using computers, household budgeting, banking and money management. The House parents Lrould also help the girls with their school studies, and allow the girls to indulge in exploring their interests in cultural arts, painting, and music appreciation. These are skills the girls would use through-out their lifetimes and would help them to transition into being able to live independently. The main goal the Group Home would be to re-unite the girls with their parents or guardians if that is possible. The Petitioners would ask the Board Members to agree that approval of the Special Exception to allow for the Group Home, would not be injurious to the public health, safety, comfort, community moral standards, convenience or general welfare, or injure or adversely affect the use of the adjacent area or property values therein, and that the proposed use will be consistent with the character of the district in which it is located and the land uses authorized therein, and that the proposed use as compatible with the recommendations of the City of South Bend Comprehensive plan, all of which is requested by the South Bend Municipal Code ~ 21-09.03 (i). The Petitioners would ask the Board 2~tembers to agree that the Group Home in this residential setting, would have a positive affect on the girls who would live in the home. The Petitioners believe that this setting, being a regular home, and not an institutional facility, with a limited number of residents, would help the girls to overcome their previous unsuitable environments, and allow them to begin anew, with professional guidance, to a positive outlook on the rest of their lives. The Petitioners believe that approval of the above Special Exception for this proposed use will not be detrimental to adjacent properties, nor wall it adversely affect the surrounding property values.