Date

12-2019

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services; Social work and Public Administration Non-Profit Management

Abstract

The capstone project created for RJ in the Schools, a program under Restorative Justice Partners, Inc. was an implementation model for building school site relationships as RJ in the Schools enters a school prior to providing specified on-site support. The implementation model was developed and piloted for purposes of addressing functionality at Monterey Peninsula Unified School District’s alternative education school, Central Coast High and later introduced to RJ in the Schools staff for approval of best internal practices. The implementation model highlights steps to strengthen relationships with school sites before commencing restorative justice (RJ) services, and can easily be adaptable to different school settings. RJ recognizes humanity, individuality and allows school community voices to be heard, opening doors to different ways of problem solving as opposed to the traditional ways of punishment that research has shown to be ineffective. RJ is a cultural shift, it is not just about solving conflicts, emphasizing the importance of having guiding tools to help transform relationships into strong foundations with the school community. Because the age group that RJ in the Schools serves is school aged students, having strong relationships with school stakeholders allows implementation to more effectively support the students in those schools who will benefit from RJ practices rather than the early reliance of the juvenile justice system.

Share

COinS