Harbor Heights officially opened this week, welcoming eight young men from Green Hill School who will participate in curated programming that provides behavior therapy, peer counseling, and workforce development.  

The first cohort is made up of young men who applied to Harbor Heights and were selected after meeting certain criteria and participating in an interview. 

Harbor Heights Superintendent Ken Rochelle personally met with the young men while they were at Green Hill to discuss the programming that he hopes will allow young people to take on leadership skills, build accountability, and create future paths for success.   

“Something that brought me to Washington was the programming” said Superintendent Rochelle during a media preview event at Harbor Heights. “I see opportunities here that give the young men a chance to not recommit.” 

One of the unique programs available at Harbor Heights is a virtual reality automotive repair training through Vehicles for Change. The young men will also receive mentorship and can earn a peer counselor certification through a partnership with Northwest Credible Messengers. 

Staff at the facility received Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) training through the Roca Impact institute (RII). Unlike traditional CBT, RII’s Rewire CBT is not limited to a clinical setting, which means trained frontline staff can use this trauma-informed approach on young people throughout the facility. This skills-based intervention helps young people heal from trauma and learn skills to regulate emotions.  

“Harbor Heights is an investment in our young men, providing new opportunities, new hope and the space to grow,” said DCYF Secretary Tana Senn.  

Though the facility is located on the grounds of the Stafford Creek Correctional Center in Aberdeen, Harbor Heights will be run by DCYF with its own visitation area, medical services, and recreation field. The young men will not interact with those in the custody of the Department of Corrections. 

The opening of the facility comes after DCYF explored dozens of sites across the state to address overcrowding challenges. The Aberdeen facility was selected because it allowed DCYF to begin operations in a matter of months, was cost effective compared to other options that required extensive renovations, and the site would be accessible to families for visits. 

“Harbor Heights is critical to help relieve some of the pressure at Green Hill School so both young people and staff have increased safety and more options, “explained Senn. “While this is an important start, it isn’t going to solve the overcrowding issue.” 

To learn more, visit the Harbor Heights webpage.