Murphy-Harpst is proud to announce a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to serve Georgia’s most vulnerable youth. This month, we officially opened our new Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Girls Cottage, a specialized environment dedicated to providing intensive, trauma-informed care for young women.

As the first provider in the state of Georgia to implement the QRTP model, Murphy-Harpst is stepping into a critical gap in the child welfare system. This new cottage is designed specifically for girls who have faced significant hurdles in finding stability, often arriving at our doors after months of “languishing” in hotels or psychiatric hospitals because no other provider could meet their complex needs.

A Sanctuary for Intensive Growth

The QRTP Girls Cottage is not just a place to stay; it is a self-contained therapeutic hub. Each young woman is supported by a dedicated, multidisciplinary team that includes:

• Specialized Clinicians: Master’s level therapists who provide intensive one-on-one and group sessions.
• Round-the-Clock Support: Program directors, shift supervisors, and cottage staff who provide a stable, family-like environment 24/7.
• Holistic Integration: Access to our full suite of campus services, including medical care, specialized education, and therapeutic recreation.

Innovation in the Cottage

Inside the cottage, healing takes on modern forms. Residents have access to “Mind Vox,” an innovative program that allows them to process their life stories through music production and songwriting. We are also utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) technology to help young women engage in “gamified therapy,” allowing them to practice emotional regulation and find peace in immersive, safe digital environments like waterfalls or calming landscapes.

“The goal is stability,” says Dr. Eddy Valentin, Director of Clinical Services. “By investigating the root causes of trauma in a concentrated environment, we can help these young women reach a baseline where they can eventually transition to less restrictive settings, such as foster homes or our community-based programs”.

The Path Forward

The opening of the female QRTP unit follows the incredible success of our male QRTP program, which launched in January 2025. By expanding these services to girls, Murphy-Harpst continues to lead the state in providing high-acuity care that focuses on long-term resiliency rather than short-term placement.

As these young women begin their journeys in the new cottage, they are surrounded by a community—from our four-legged “therapists” like our donkeys and horses to our dedicated volunteers—all committed to one message: You belong here, and you are loved.