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Success Stories

Job Placement Provides Catalyst to Success

An example of the success experienced at Secret Harbor’s Residential Treatment Center is “Chuck”.  Chuck came to us from a totally dysfunctional family.  He was a six-foot, sixteen year old who was immature, withdrawn, oppositional-defiant, occasionally aggressive—and had a history of joyriding in stolen vehicles.  In our residential treatment program, he slowly began to open up to his caseworker.  He formed relationships with childcare staff around shared interests—particularly music and technology. 

Chuck completed his GED at age 17 with assistance from the school staff.  With help from our business office, he was successful in getting a part time job at a restaurant in Anacortes, commuting each workday from Cypress Island while the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and Secret Harbor staff tried to locate an appropriate foster care placement.  This adolescent boy really blossomed at work.  The job environment served as a catalyst to his becoming a much more outgoing, confident, young man.  The entire Secret Harbor team worked with Chuck during the 14 months he spent in our residential program. 

Currently Chuck is in a foster care program for 18 to 21 year olds while attending community college.  He has a work-study job working with computers, and has well defined plans to continue in college in computer sciences and obtain a four-year degree.