An Omaha mother, who's son has been missing for almost 9 years, received national honors for her work in helping other families cope when their loved ones go missing.

The U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) named Kelly Jolkowski as the 2010 Volunteer for Victims Honoree.

The announcement came at the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony.

She was one of eight people honored for their work helping victims.

Jolkowski is President and Founder of Project Jason, a nonprofit organization that assists families of missing adults and children.

Jolkowski took up the cause after her son, Jason, disappeared in June, 2001.

"We congratulate Kelly Jolkowski, volunteer for families of the missing, for being among the honorees in this year's National Crime Victims' Service Awards," says Ernie Allen, President and CEO of The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

"I'm honored to accept this award on behalf of all missing persons, the families who miss them, and in my son's name," said Jolkowski. "The secondary victims, the families, deserve a voice, and to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect as they go through what is undoubtedly the most difficult time in their lives. This is what I do, and for this work to be honored can be a catalyst for the change of the mindset of the public as it pertains to the aid given to these suffering families."