Harmony House Provides Hope to Victims of Child Abuse
By CASEY HICKSArticle Photos
Editor's note: This is the third in a series of stories profiling participating United Way member agencies and the work they do in the community. Because United Way services are provided on a confidential basis, names of the subjects of these case studies have been withheld.
Five years ago, the Junior League of Wheeling and King's Daughters Child Care Center teamed up to form a children's advocacy center that would focus on aiding children who are the victims of abuse. With one employee and one room at King's Daughters, the group established Harmony House.
"A group of people realized children were falling through the cracks of programs designed to help them," said Leslie Vassilaros, founding director of Harmony House.
As of Oct. 28, Harmony House has served 591 clients this year and conducted more than 200 forensic interviews to investigate mistreatment or abuse. Last year Harmony House had 559 direct service clients and 165 forensic interviews.
Harmony House offers case review and tracking, forensic interviews and evaluations, victim support, crisis intervention, community education and awareness, and referrals for medical or therapeutic evaluations and treatment.
One client was a 7-year-old boy who was a suspected victim of abuse. At Harmony House, the boy's interview yielded allegations he had been sexually abused by a relative for two years.
"Sometimes the hardest thing as a forensic interviewer is not reacting," Vassilaros said.
Harmony House referred the boy to the Sexual Assault Help Center, a local therapist and Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh for a non-acute medical examination.
But Harmony House also aims to heal families after allegations of abuse.
The boy's mother claimed that domestic violence was also an issue in the family, so Vassilaros referred her to the YWCA, who offered her support and provided her with a cell phone.
Vassilaros was also able to put the mother in touch with Wheeling Health Right to be able to afford anxiety medication.
After dealing with limited space for years, Harmony House now operates out of office space donated by Ohio Valley Medical Center at 2000 Eoff St., Wheeling. The proximity to the hospital helps Vassilaros make medical referrals, especially for emergency treatment, and she is working with Hillcrest Behavioral Health Center to conduct therapy in the Harmony House offices.
The center is designed to provide a safe zone with toys, stuffed animals and games to make children feel more comfortable than clinical rooms designed with adults in mind.
In June, Harmony House lost its federal funding, but Vassilaros said becoming a member agency of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley has helped Harmony House with funding and networking with other agencies in the area to best serve clients.
"We're very honored the United Way has opened its arms to us," she said. "They're very good at screening, selecting and finding agencies that don't duplicate services."
The demand for Harmony House's services has been outpacing its resources, but Vassilaros said that so far, the organization has not had to turn away a single child in need.
"Children should know it's OK to tell," Vassilaros said. "When this sort of thing happens, it's never their fault."
To get in touch with Harmony House, call 304-230-2205.
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wheelingresidentnomore
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11-27-08 4:48 PM
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Harmony House is an oustanding agency doing critically important work in the Ohio Valley. This area is lucky to have such a resource. Leslie, her caring and committed staff, and the organization's board are all to be commended for their dedication and vision. If you haven't had the opportunity to become acquainted with this organization, I highly recommend that you contact Leslie and schedule a visit. You'll instantly want to become involved in their important and life-changing mission.
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