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Last week I posted a link to a story about a school district that invited representatives of local churches to learn about its implementation ofrestorative practices. Today I have news of a program I recently learned about that involves a partnership between faith congregations and organizations that provide restorative services to communities. Shalem Mental Health Network has the news on its web site:

Shalem and the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP) – Canada have embarked together on the Hosting Project, where faith communities of all faiths – Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and other – act as hosts of restorative processes that happen in their local communities. Hosting connects deeply with themes of hospitality and sanctuary that are central to all of the world’s major religions.

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In the coming year IIRP will be offering three different 4Day Events in a host of locations nationwide.

  • Basic Restorative Practices   Four days of professional development, exploring the full range of restorative practices. Day 1: Introduction to Restorative Practices. Day 2: Using Circles Effectively. Day 3: Facilitating Restorative Conferences. Day 4: Family Engagement.
  • Restorative Responses to Grief, Trauma and Adversity   This event will teach you how to employ restorative practices such as restorative conferences to respond effectively to serious incidents. Acquire valuable skills for responding to trauma and grief. Explore the grieving process from a fresh and practical perspective. Address the essential issue of self-care. View and discuss videos of powerful true stories.
  • Restorative Leadership Development: Authority with Grace   A highly participatory and engaging experience for managers, supervisors, teachers, parents or anyone in a position of responsibility or authority. Over the four days you will learn the principles of restorative leadership, an engaging, collaborative and effective way to exercise your authority.

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A creative application of restorative justice from Canada.

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IIRP instructor Steve Korr will be presenting the first day's keynote, "Restorative Practices: A Systemic Model for Change in Schools," at the American Council for School Social Work Conference, which takes place February 18-19, 2013, at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Following the keynote, Steve will also be doing an interactive workshop on "Restorative Practices in Schools."

Steve's keynote is an indication of how restorative practices is gaining credence nationally. Steve has been involved in implementing whole-school change through restorative practices nationwide and will share his experiences with this large, important group of school professionals who are on the front lines dealing with mental health and violence issues in schools. The ACSSW wanted a keynote on restorative practices because it is becoming known as an evidence-based practice.

More information about the ACSSW conference can be found here.

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Balloon release at Fenger High School, from video uploaded by Robert SpicerRobert Koehler's column this week for the Chicago Tribune focuses on a school transformation at Fenger High School in Chicago.

"Fenger used to have a terrible reputation, which reached its nadir a little over three years ago when one of its students, Derrion Albert, was caught in the middle of a gang melee on his way home from school and beaten to death with two-by-fours," writes Koehler. "His murder was caught on a cellphone video and became international news."

But now students are taught skills to handle conflict, alternatives to violence, which are making a huge difference:

While meanness, disrespect, misunderstanding and temper flare-ups are part of life everywhere, in some neighborhoods they can be life-or-death issues. Teaching social skills, empathy, respect and the ability to listen are absolutely crucial. And it can’t be done half-heartedly, said Robert Spicer, Fenger’s Culture and Climate coordinator and the person who facilitates the school’s peer jury program. “Lives are at stake.”

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Two IIRP assistant professors, John Bailie and Craig Adamson, have co-authored an article, "Education Versus Learning: Restorative Practices in Higher Education," which has been published in the Journal of Transformative Education. John Bailie is also IIRP's Director of Continuing Education. Craig Adamson is Executive Director of Community Service Foundation and Buxmont Academy, IIRP's model programs that serve at-risk youth in eastern Pennsylvania using restorative practices.

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Representatives of school and church meet over breakfast in Susquehanna Township. Photo by M. Diane McCormick for PennLive.com

The Susquehanna Township (Pennsylvania) School District has not only been implementing restorative practices district-wide. They are also reaching out to the wider community to involve them in the changes happening in the school and expand their efforts. This article from the the Harrisburg Patriot News/PennLive.com describes how for the first time ever the district invited leaders of local churches to attend "a 'faith-based breakfast' at [the school's] administrative building." IIRP instructor Steve Korr made a presentation during the breakfast  about restorative practices and the district's efforts.

“This is a nice way to network with the community, and the churches in the area are partners with us,” [Superintendent Susan M.] Kegerise said. “We have to cultivate that. Their parishioners are our students.”

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Chief Executive Officer of the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF), Donna Parchment Brown (left), engages in light discussion with Campion College students, Khadijah Chin (right) and Jordan Jarrett, at the Restorative Justice Facilitators graduation and awards ceremony held on Thursday, February 7, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston. Photo & caption from JIS.

Latonya Linton, for the Jamaica Information Service on February 8, 2013, writes:

The Ministry of Justice will be partnering with the Ministry of Education to implement restorative practices within the education system.

“We intend to partner with the (Education) Ministry to ensure that the option is available to our schools so that we can mitigate some of the challenges that our schools face in handling conflicts,” said Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry, Carol Palmer.

She was speaking at the Restorative Justice Facilitators graduation and awards ceremony held on Thursday, February 7 at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston.

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Restorative Justice for youth in Oakland.

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Public Counsel, includes restorative practices infoPublic Counsel Law Center has just published a downloadable toolkit and launched a web site aimed at revising discipline policies in schools in California. Beginning with the statement, "During the 2010-2011 academic year, California schools issued more suspensions than diplomas," the toolkit goes on to argue the need to end ineffective zero-tolerance policies and employ alternative approaches.

The "Good News" section of the toolkit (which can also be found online here) begins with a section about restorative justice and restorative practices. It says:

"Restorative Practices, which builds upon Restorative Justice and applies in the school context, is used to build a sense of school community and resolve conflict by repairing harm and restoring positive relationships through the use of regular 'restorative circles' where students and educators work together to set academic goals, develop core values for the classroom community and resolve conflicts."

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