By KEITH PHUCAS

Times Herald Staff

COURTHOUSE — After drawing accolades in Montgomery County for a nonprofit that helps abused children navigate the criminal justice system, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman has been recognized by a national organization.

Ferman, who cofounded Mission Kids with Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy, was chosen as the recipient of the 2010 National Children’s Advocacy Center’s Outstanding Service Award for Prosecution, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s involvement combating child abuse as an assistant DA was the catalyst for her founding the organization in 2007, and she was instrumental in its official launch last year.

The group’s East Norriton advocacy center is designed to streamline children through the court system by informing participating professionals about a child’s case through a single interview.

“Working to open a child advocacy center for Montgomery County has been one of the most rewarding endeavors of my time in the District Attorney’s Office,” she said. “It has been a privilege to be part of a team of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of abused children.”

Without those “community partners” that include individuals and institutions, Mission Kids would have just been a worthy, though unfulfilled, idea. Instead, the community rallied behind the goal of improving how child abuse cases are handled and created an organization devoted to achieving that end. Ferman said the award may bear her name, but it is a true testament to the power of collaboration and “what we can accomplish when we work together towards an important goal.” 

 The National Children’s Advocacy Center’s Outstanding Service Awards are vetted to all 700 Child Advocacy Center’s nationwide. The DA was selected for her significant contributions to child advocacy through her founding and continued support of Mission Kids.

Ferman will travel to Huntsville, Ala. to receive her award during the 26th National Symposium on Child Abuse on Wednesday.