In April, Dr. M. Elizabeth Ralston received the Commissioner’s Award for her dedication to abused children.

Joan E. Ohl, commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, presented the award to Ralston and other recipients from each state and territory at the 16th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect in Portland, Ore.

Ralston has been a leading advocate for a coordinated community response in child abuse cases for more than 30 years. She developed and is the director of South Carolina’s first Children’s Advocacy Center, The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center located in Charleston. Since 1989, more than 13,000 children have been served by this program.

Ralston also has been instrumental in the development of 16 other Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout South Carolina.

The Commissioner’s Award honors a person who has made significant contributions toward the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The Commissioner’s Awards are given every two years. The last honoree from South Carolina was former Department of Social Services State Director Elizabeth Patterson.

In South Carolina, Kathleen Hayes, the state director of South Carolina’s DSS, will recognize Ralston at the Child Welfare Advisory Council meeting May 17 in Columbia.