Gwendolyn Elliot, founder of Gwen's Girls, an organization helping at-risk young women reach their potential, and juvenile division Administrative Judge Kim Berkeley Clark will be honored today at a Children's Hospital event for their work helping children in the region.

The "Champion of Hope and Healing Award" will be given to both women as part of the second annual Conference on Hope and Healing, which explores issues of preventing child abuse and neglect. It is sponsored by the Child Advocacy Center at Children's with support from the University of Pittsburgh and the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.

Held at the William Pitt Union at Pitt, the conference, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes social workers, caseworkers, legal advocates, police and others who work in the child welfare system.