Restorative Practice
“Through restorative justice practices, kids are counseled, not suspended. They are taught how to correct problematic behavior. They are pushed into the school community more deeply instead of being pushed out via suspension or expulsion.”
At Clay Counseling Foundation, we aim to be a positive asset to the community through our use of Restorative Practices, like Restorative Justice, in our daily work. One application of Restorative Practices is found in Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice focuses on repairing the harm and the disconnect caused by crime or interpersonal conflict and restoring these relationships when damage or harm has occurred. This is achieved through a facilitated collaboration between victims, offenders, and community members to decide on a solution to repair harm caused. The results can be transformational.
Restorative Justice shifts the focus of discipline from punishment to learning, and from the individual to the community. Our goal with Restorative Justice is to work with youth, the victims, and the accused, to come to a solution rather than leaning on standard methods of punishment. Restorative Justice seeks to resolve the problem long-term through the use of social connections, assigning of fair punishment, fostering understanding, and adjusting youth behavior.
Restorative Justice Practices Help:
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Build community inside and outside of schools
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Intervene in problematic behavior
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Rebuild and strengthen damaged relationships
