Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman has received a national award for her work addressing cases of child abuse.

The National Children's Advocacy Center, in Alabama, gave Ferman its outstanding-service award for prosecution, one of eight annual honors that the agency gives.

Ferman was cited for her work in founding and supporting the nonprofit Mission Kids, launched in the fall to help abused children cope with the justice system. Mission Kids is on pace to interview about 250 child victims for potential assistance in 2010, according to a news release. - Inquirer staff