Areas of Service
Our work spans across sectors from governmental agencies, educational settings, to fellow non-profits, faith communities, and individuals and families.
Restorative justice is a way of living and being and we are here to walk with anyone interested in living justly.
Here are a few samples of the work we have done in various sectors.
Criminal Legal System
Crime causes injury to people and communities. We work with those affected by crime and those within the criminal legal system on a journey of personal and societal healing. Our work encompass support and guidance for those harmed, those that caused harm, their families, and the affected community. Our partners include victim advocates, re-entry specialists, lawyers, and restorative justice professionals. We aim to look not only at what harm has occurred and how that harm may be made as right as possible, but we look to see why this harm might have happened in the first place and address root causes. By doing so we are working toward a more just world.
Restorative Encounters offers:
◾ Restorative Conferencing and Dialogue (also known as Victim Offender Mediation)
◾ Transition Circle Processes, planning for release and upon release
◾ Re-entry programming for non-profits and correctional facilities
◾ Re-entry coaching for incarcerated people and their families
◾ Restorative Justice training for correctional officers, prison and jail employees, police officers, lawyers, and incarcerated people
◾ Victim Support Groups
◾ Mother's of Incarcerated or Recently Release Children, support group
◾ Among others....
Educational Settings
"We have a responsibility not only to teach math and science and history, but also relationship."
- Dennis Gingrich, Restorative Encounters Associate and Head of the Guidance Program for Waterloo Catholic School District
From Pre-K through College, Restorative Justice in Education is about environments that are just and when injustice occurs deals with it in a restorative manner. We assist schools in taking a solution approach encouraging healthy behavior from students and staff, teaching the importance of accountability. We are here to assist educational environments in becoming safe places where students can learn academics and social skills; helping school districts, teachers, staff, parents, and students interested in implementing restorative practices and restorative justice within their schools.
Restorative Encounters offers:
◾Training and organizational consultancy in creating a restorative environment.
◾ Programming to address disciplinary issues in a restorative manner.
◾ Circle Process training and development that can be used for check-ins, dialogue when disruption occurs, and transition from
or back to the educational environment after an absence for any reason (such as, teachers out on medical or parental leave,
students out for medical or disciplinary reasons, etc.).
◾ Conflict Transformation training for faculty, staff, students, and parents.
◾ Group decision making processes.
◾ and more!
Family Systems
Families are made up of unique individuals, each with their own thoughts, opinions, and reactions to situations. It is natural for conflict to occur in families; even when unintentional, feelings can be hurt. Family conflict can be healthy if dealt with in a restorative manner. No matter where the conflict is coming from in a family it impacts the entire family and can be extremely stressful and at times quiet destructive. We are here to assist families with any situations that may be causing angst. Whether it is a behavioral issue, reintegrating a family member who has been away whether on deployment or incarcerated, adding a new family member through marriage or adoption, we are here to assist in addressing the issues and making transitions as smooth as possible.
To assist in restoring family unity, Restorative Encounters offers:
◾ Facilitated family dialogue.
◾ Family mediation.
◾ Integration program for blended families, whether through marriage or adoption.
◾ Families on the Front Lines, offering families of those in the armed services support and guidance on what to expect when their
loved one returns home.
◾ Welcome Home, reintegration services for families with loved ones returning after incarceration.
Faith Communities
Conflict is never easy to deal with especially when we feel hurt by those closest to us. It is easier to focus on doing justice in the world, rather than being just. However, if we cannot act justly within the walls of our faith communities, how will we be able to act justly outside of them?
All faith communities have their histories of conflict, and times that members leave hurt by the actions of their fellow brothers and sisters, we walk with you to help restore relationships or in some cases offer just separation. Offering tools and trainings to better equip us to be just with one another, bringing reconciliation, personal and societal healing.
"True Reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometime make things worse. It is a risky undertaking but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring real healing. Superficial reconciliation can bring only superficial healing." - Bishop Desmond Tutu
To assist faith communities in their call of reconciliation, Restorative Encounters offers:
◾ Studies on the sacred texts concept of justice.
◾ Coaching and restorative conferencing/dialogues (also known as, mediation).
◾ Community building focused on training and facilitating open dialogue; and collaboration to engage your local community.
◾ Training in Restorative Justice equipping members with tools to be restorative in all their relationships.
◾ Transition facilitation to help Churches navigate the waters of change within their community.
◾ Investigation into misconduct and recommendations for repair.