Secret Harbor has plans to move several behaviorally challenged students from its current island location to a staffed group home in Sedro-Woolley this summer.

The organization made an accepted offer on a home located at 939 State Street that formerly served as an adult family care center. Before students can move into the home, Secret Harbor must apply for a conditional use permit with the city of Sedro-Woolley.

The organization helps boys and girls who have faced abuse and neglect, and currently houses some of its male students at its Cypress Island residence.
The boys located on the island typically have behavioral or mental-health related problems and have not been successful within the foster care system, said Brian Carroll, Secret Harbor president and CEO.

“We want to be open and transparent with the process,” Carroll said.
The organization had not yet applied for the permit at the time of printing.
A conditional use permit requires neighbors within 500 feet of the home be notified of the applicant’s request and a public hearing with a hearing examiner must be held, said Eron Berg, city supervisor and attorney.

The hearing examiner has the authority to accept or deny the conditional use permit based on concerns of the community and hearing examiner, Berg said.
Secret Harbor recently opened a group home in Burlington in March and is in the process of opening homes in Mount Vernon and Anacortes. Carroll said he hopes to have students moved in by July if the application process in Sedro-Woolley goes through.
No more than six boys would live at the home and supervision would be provided at all times, including one staff member supervising at night and two during the day, Carroll said.

Students in the State Street home would range from 12 to 17 years of age, he said, and would attend school in the Sedro-Woolley School District. Carroll said he has contacted Sedro-Woolley School District Superintendent Mark Venn to let the district know Secret Harbor is hoping to move to the area.
The boys would begin attending school in the fall. So far, school district officials are unsure what will be worked out between Secret Harbor and the school district since neither group has discussed those terms, Venn said.

Funding for the students’ education would come from state dollars, and additional funding would come from local levy dollars. Some students are from Skagit County but most are from other areas of Northwest Washington, Carrol said.

What the school district provides Secret Harbor students will depend on their needs, Venn said, but so far school district officials do not know what those needs are.

Venn said he will have a better understanding of each student’s needs and how to accommodate them once they receive more information about them.
The school district will welcome the students and will work closely with Secret Harbor staff to be sure each student is placed correctly in the school system, he said.

“With any kid who comes to the school district, we’re obligated by law to provide an education,” Venn said. “These students will not be treated any differently.”
He said Secret Harbor will allocate staff resources to support such community placement.

Secret Harbor is relocating from Cypress Island in the fall to a residential setup on the mainland due to rising costs in upkeep and operations, Carroll said. The organization previously tried to relocate to the Northern State Hospital campus but was unable to due to community concerns and a sewer moratorium.
Secret Harbor then looked at property in Whatcom County but was unable to locate there either.

Students from Cypress Island will benefit from a move to the mainland and into a residential home setting, Carroll said. The best benefit is students can access community resources such as the library or counseling, he said.

They will be able to interact with the community and will have experience living in a family setting, Carroll said. Students will have the opportunity to help prepare meals, maintain upkeep of the home and assist staff with shopping.

A group home environment will help them integrate into their next phase of life, he said.