Foundations in Restorative Practices
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Today’s best thinking in leadership, education, and change management emphasizes the need to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and part of a community that cares. Whether you are a teacher, parent, principal, health care provider, or authority figure, you can benefit from restorative practices. Over the course of this program, you’ll be part of a supportive learning group on a fulfilling journey of growth and change.
Through discussions, exercises, and other practical activities, you’ll deepen your knowledge of the philosophy behind restorative practices. You’ll also gain techniques to build strong, connected cultures. When conflict occurs, you’ll have non-adversarial problem-solving tools to reach solutions that build safer, healthier, more equitable environments.
Practice new ways of relating to people and holding power. Instead of experiencing resistance and avoidance or having to rely on lecturing, scolding, and threatening interventions, the systematic use of restorative practices will leave you and the people you interact with feeling connected to positive, resilient, and accountable communities.
Learn firsthand from people and organizations already using restorative practices in their everyday life and work. Hear from teachers and other professionals who are using restorative practices to transform their organizations and outcomes.
A social science that studies how to improve and repair relationships between people and communities, restorative practices can help build healthy communities, increase social capital, decrease crime and antisocial behavior, repair harm, and restore relationships.
Restorative practices have deep roots in indigenous peacemaking and knowledge. Global indigenous communities have a long-standing history of living in alignment with what we now refer to as restorative justice and restorative practices. The indigenous roots of these systems are not monolithic—indigenous communities practice circles and justice in different ways. Part of honoring this work means staying humble, knowing that these practices came before us and will outlast us.
Testimonials
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About Foundations in Restorative Practices
Participants will:
- Acquire a strong theoretical foundation in restorative practices that have been proven to enhance both personal and professional spheres
- Develop the skills necessary to facilitate proactively
- Become acquainted with restorative responses to harm (though a deep dive into these responsive practices is outside the scope of this training)
- Have access to planning tools and resources tailored to your specific needs
- Gain techniques to build strong, connected cultures
- Learn problem-solving tools to reach solutions that build safer, healthier, and more equitable environments
- Practice new ways of relating to people and organizations
- Improve decision-making and leadership skills.
- Gain access to future support and development opportunities to become an in-house resource for restorative practices
Participants will also benefit from building connections with other professionals who are committed to living the values and principles of restorative practices.
The first sessions outline the basics of restorative practice, including philosophy and mindset.
Then, we’ll focus in on the tools and practices that support proactive community building, such as community building circles.
The latter part of the series will contain an overview of restorative responses to harm, including the use of restorative dialogue and harm repair circles.
The final sessions will give participants an opportunity to envision what it would look like to implement restorative practices in their own contexts, with feedback and support from instructors and peers.
Participants from a variety of fields will benefit from this dynamic program, including
- Teachers, educators, administrators of primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools
- Social workers and family services workers
- Corrections, criminal justice and policing
- Nonprofit organizations
- Healthcare workers
- Community development workers
This program uses a team-based model. To benefit most from your restorative practice efforts, participating groups should form teams of at least three to five people from your business/community group/organization/school. At least one team member should be an administrator, and your team should be representative of your school or organization’s diverse community. Those not associated with an institution will be partnered with other individuals for team-based work.
Tracey Daniels-Kenney
Restorative Justice Project Maine Training and Capacity Builder
Hanlon Kelley-Dillard
Restorative Justice Project Maine Training and Capacity Builder
For guaranteed transference of skills, ask about Restorative Justice Practices’ proven 1:1 coaching methods to support your training after the program itself has finished. For more information, contact Hanlon Kelley-Dillard at hanlon@rjpmaine.org.
Program Details
Request a custom program
Every organization faces different challenges, goals, and opportunities. And unique needs sometimes require a customized professional development program.
UMaine Professional and Continuing Education can help you find and develop a program tailored to your employees, team members, or organization.
Ready to create a program workshop for your team? Submit a custom program request form and get started today.
