Originating from Royston, Georgia, Harmony House serves the five counties of Georgia’s Northern Judicial Circuit. As a Child Advocay and Sexual Assault Center, Harmony House fulfills a critical mission: to provide a central location using a multidisciplinary team approach to the evaluation, intervention, prevention and treatment for children (and their non-offending caregivers) as well as those adults who have been victims of sexual assault.
Harmony House serves the communities of Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties. By providing a broad range of services for both children and adults, the organization is able to support clients from the moment a crisis occurs, throughout the criminal justice process, and as they continue healing after the immediate crisis has passed. At the core of Harmony House’s approach is their MDT: a Multidisciplinary Team, composed of law enforcement, mental health professionals, the Department of Family and Children Services, the District Attorney’s Office, school systems, medical professionals, and Harmony House’s adult and children advocates. As Harmony House explains, utilizing the MDT is important because, “a tailored team of specific specialists is assembled to support each family’s distinct needs.”
Harmony House provides services to three groups: adult sexual assault, child advocacy, and human trafficking. Adult services supports adults who were abused as children, survisors of sexual assault, and survivors of sex trafficking. Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia recognizes Harmony House as an accredited member. Children who have experienced any form of abuse, witnessed domestic violence, or witnessed homicide are eligible for Harmony House services. The organization also provides support and care to children’s nonoffending caregivers. For survivors of human trafficking, Harmony House partners with The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia’s Human Trafficking Task Force. Through this partnership, the task force is able to work through the five elements of trafficking: vulnerability, recruitment, exploitation, withdrawal, and reintegration. Harmony House strengthens community awareness by offering Human Trafficking 101 training, as well as hotel & motel staff training. These trainings equip community members to recognize the signs of trafficking, identify potential victims, and increase knowledge and awareness of human trafficking.
Harmony House follows a victim centered approach, empowering their clients by listening and believing, prioritizing their safety, and avoiding blame. All Harmony House services are provided free of charge. The organization has a 24-hour Crisis Hotline, available 365 days a year, to provide immediate support, guidance, and information for survivors. Additional services include forensic medical exams, criminal justice advocacy, counseling, community referrals, and support groups. Together, the provided services offer comprehensive care throughout clients’ healing.
While organizing Harmony House’s annual golf tournament fundraiser, Wendy Risner, Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator for Harmony House, connected with Harbin Lumber Company’s CEO Chris Moon and shared the organization’s mission. That conversation marked the beginning of the Harbin Family Foundation’s proud support of Harmony House’s work. Wendy shared the story with gratitude, stating she is “forever grateful for that meeting with Mr. Moon”. Funding from HFF has supported Harmony House’s Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, providing resources like “therapeutic training, workbooks, journals, completion celebrations, therapy room design, and furnishing elements.”
Over her 16 years with Harmony House, Wendy has witnessed the perception of survivor work shift within the communities. For her, this tells her that the organization is leaving a lasting impact on the communities served. “Our communities are more aware of the issues surrounding these crimes and how to better support survivors, as well as prevention methods that protect our most vulnerable community members.” In 2025 alone, the organization provided 4,914 crisis services, conducted 803 therapy sessions, opened 151 new cases, and answered 51 hotline calls. The numbers are more than statistics – they represent individuals and families who found a place to seek help, guidance, and healing during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
If Wendy could share one piece of advice, “The support of a community can never be taken for granted or underestimated. Harmony House is stronger in our abilities to serve because of the community support we receive. We know the value, and we work to mirror that support in the integrity of our services. We are appreciative of every way that our community shows up for us and the survivors we serve. Together we make life-changing differences.”
Through their unwavering commitment to advocacy and healing, Harmony House provides restoration and strength to so many communities. The Harbin Family Foundation is proud to support Harmony House and the compassionate, life changing work they provide to so many individuals and families throughout Georgia.