Refuge for north county teens open in Arlington
Published on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 by Carmell EmoryRead More Communities
Just a few blocks from downtown Arlington sits a house that exists to help homeless and at-risk teens and their families. Most people would consider this a shelter, but the staff and directors of Cocoon House want people to see it as a home where teens and their families can find the resources they need to resolve difficult issues.
On September 2 the Arlington shelter hosted a public open house. Staff members offered tours of the facilities and guest speakers spoke about the importance of the north county shelter, thanking the community for their support.
Cocoon House representatives reminded Snohomish County citizens and heath care professionals that they are open and ready to help teens who are in need. Arlington Mayor Margaret Larson commended the shelter, noting, "I cannot say enough about those who help homeless children."
The Cocoon House originated in Everett, which is still the primary headquarters for the growing organization. Since 1991, the Cocoon House has been providing at-risk and homeless teens with the essentials for basic living, but what sets the organization apart is the other services they provide for troubled youth.
This organization offers teens a warm bed, clothes and food for a few weeks, but its main goal is to provide services that allow troubled youngsters to make a positive transition.
Arlington's Cocoon House, which opened in 2006, serves as an emergency short-term shelter. The home can accommodate as many as six teens at one time, each staying for up to 14 days. During that time, the youth is offered multiple services. The shelter's top priority is to make contact with the parents and to get the teen back into his or her home if possible. If going back home is not an option, the young person can be transferred to Everett for more permanent housing and services.
While at the house, teens are taught life skills that can have a long-lasting impact on them. Each night the professional staff assists the teens in different activities such as crafts, games, baking, or going to the Stillaguamish Athletic Center for physical activities.
While this may seem like all fun and games, the Cocoon House actually enforces strict rules. The youth are expected to do daily chores including laundry, baking and keeping their living area clean, and they must obey their "house parent." Parental permission must be given for the teen to stay at Cocoon House, which also means that parents are free to pick up their child at any time. If the teen is enrolled in school, he or she must attend school daily and be in the house for the 5 p.m. curfew on weeknights and 8 p.m. on non-school evenings. If they arrive at the house after 9 p.m., they must be accompanied by a police officer. A staff substance abuse case manager is also on staff at all times. Boys and girls sleep in different wings of the house and motion detectors are in every room to ensure the teens obey these rules.
Josh Webb, the Arlington house case manager, said, "Most teens thrive with the boundaries because they do not have any at home. We try and teach the parents what we do."
Working with the parents of troubled teens is one of the main goals for the shelter. Webb explained that parents can become desperate and resort to forcing the teenager to leave the home because they don't know any other options. Many times, Webb and other staff members have seen families that just need a break from the teen's behavior.
Arlington police chief Bob Sullenburger agreed with this respite period, stating, "It is important for a family in crisis to take time out and resolve the issues they are having." This is where the Cocoon House staff steps in and shines.
Cocoon House facilitates a 90-minute intervention with the parents and teen to encourage family resolutions. Other services offered are parent-teen counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, parenting workshops and seminars, and team/trust building exercises with the teen. If the parents need additional help, Cocoon House staff will take the time to find other resources for the family.
The organization realizes that their services are needed in other areas around Snohomish County. A new shelter will open in Monroe in February of next year.
Lyle Ryan, chairman of the board for Cocoon House, explained the importance of additional shelter locations. "Being only Everett-based, one of the things that wasn't working is that we couldn't serve the whole county. Our premise is to have the teen be back at home with their family or a relative. Another important thing is they need to be back at school and in their own environment; some kids would have to ride the Community Transit to attend school."
For now, the Cocoon House staff is getting the word out about their services to the community and exploring new ways to expand their programs.
To learn more about the Cocoon House, its services or ways to donate, visit the Web site at www.cocoonhouse.org.
On September 2 the Arlington shelter hosted a public open house. Staff members offered tours of the facilities and guest speakers spoke about the importance of the north county shelter, thanking the community for their support.
Cocoon House representatives reminded Snohomish County citizens and heath care professionals that they are open and ready to help teens who are in need. Arlington Mayor Margaret Larson commended the shelter, noting, "I cannot say enough about those who help homeless children."
The Cocoon House originated in Everett, which is still the primary headquarters for the growing organization. Since 1991, the Cocoon House has been providing at-risk and homeless teens with the essentials for basic living, but what sets the organization apart is the other services they provide for troubled youth.
This organization offers teens a warm bed, clothes and food for a few weeks, but its main goal is to provide services that allow troubled youngsters to make a positive transition.
Arlington's Cocoon House, which opened in 2006, serves as an emergency short-term shelter. The home can accommodate as many as six teens at one time, each staying for up to 14 days. During that time, the youth is offered multiple services. The shelter's top priority is to make contact with the parents and to get the teen back into his or her home if possible. If going back home is not an option, the young person can be transferred to Everett for more permanent housing and services.
While at the house, teens are taught life skills that can have a long-lasting impact on them. Each night the professional staff assists the teens in different activities such as crafts, games, baking, or going to the Stillaguamish Athletic Center for physical activities.
While this may seem like all fun and games, the Cocoon House actually enforces strict rules. The youth are expected to do daily chores including laundry, baking and keeping their living area clean, and they must obey their "house parent." Parental permission must be given for the teen to stay at Cocoon House, which also means that parents are free to pick up their child at any time. If the teen is enrolled in school, he or she must attend school daily and be in the house for the 5 p.m. curfew on weeknights and 8 p.m. on non-school evenings. If they arrive at the house after 9 p.m., they must be accompanied by a police officer. A staff substance abuse case manager is also on staff at all times. Boys and girls sleep in different wings of the house and motion detectors are in every room to ensure the teens obey these rules.
Josh Webb, the Arlington house case manager, said, "Most teens thrive with the boundaries because they do not have any at home. We try and teach the parents what we do."
Working with the parents of troubled teens is one of the main goals for the shelter. Webb explained that parents can become desperate and resort to forcing the teenager to leave the home because they don't know any other options. Many times, Webb and other staff members have seen families that just need a break from the teen's behavior.
Arlington police chief Bob Sullenburger agreed with this respite period, stating, "It is important for a family in crisis to take time out and resolve the issues they are having." This is where the Cocoon House staff steps in and shines.
Cocoon House facilitates a 90-minute intervention with the parents and teen to encourage family resolutions. Other services offered are parent-teen counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, parenting workshops and seminars, and team/trust building exercises with the teen. If the parents need additional help, Cocoon House staff will take the time to find other resources for the family.
The organization realizes that their services are needed in other areas around Snohomish County. A new shelter will open in Monroe in February of next year.
Lyle Ryan, chairman of the board for Cocoon House, explained the importance of additional shelter locations. "Being only Everett-based, one of the things that wasn't working is that we couldn't serve the whole county. Our premise is to have the teen be back at home with their family or a relative. Another important thing is they need to be back at school and in their own environment; some kids would have to ride the Community Transit to attend school."
For now, the Cocoon House staff is getting the word out about their services to the community and exploring new ways to expand their programs.
To learn more about the Cocoon House, its services or ways to donate, visit the Web site at www.cocoonhouse.org.
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