Addressing Trauma Utilizing Restorative Practices
Transcript of Addressing Trauma Utilizing Restorative Practices
Addressing Trauma Utilizing Restorative
PracticesSherwynn Patton , (512) 297-3198
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Life Anew Restorative Justice
My Brothers Keeper:
https://youtu.be/kCk9VIOAqdg
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
The Most Common in Schools
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is a chronic (ongoing) type of depression in which a person's moods are regularly low. But, symptoms are not as severe as with major depression
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
The Most Common Seen In Schools
Bipolar disorder is a dangerous and debilitating disorder that causes a person's mood, activity and energy levels to shift unexpectedly. People with bipolar disorder experience severe mania, and they may or may not have episodes of depression. They usually have some periods of partial or full stability as well.
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Creating a Safe Space
http://www.elifeanew.com/media
Identify family needs
Sharing has to become the norm
Don’t try to fix it
We should come along side others
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Advantages of Restorative Practices
Relationship focus Social/emotional learning Provides moral clarity to complex issues Expression of feelings Addresses root causes of behaviors Helps to identify and address trauma It breaks down barriers of assumptions Addresses the needs Tool for team-building, addressing conflict,
behavior management, & classroom management.
Augments other prevention programs.
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Challenges
It takes time.
Big commitment in terms of intentionality.
Buy-in from teachers & staff-shift in punitive mindset.
Commitment of resources.
Requires strong administrative leadership.
Requires a 3-5 year process
Not all conferences seem to have a positive outcome.
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
It Takes a Village:
Get Your Staff Bought Into Restorative Practices
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Train Your Staff
Get trained in Restorative Practices
Have some staff meetings in circle
Share ways that circles can be utilized for instruction
Solve Problems in circle
Bring your needs/concerns to the circle
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
The Family Conference
The conferences allow us to identify specific needs for students and their family
Planning of the COSA is the most important part of the process
Identify the student that may need to have a family group conference
Connect with the parent or parents of the students to find out what their needs are in regards to supporting their student.
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Family Group Conferencing
Meet with the student to find out what his felt needs are
List the names of service providers on or off your campus that may need to be in the Family Group Conference
Mobilize the service providers on and off of your campus to support the family’s needs
Meet with each person that will attend the conference to briefly discuss what is expected of them in the conference.
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Creating Safe Space
◦ Explain the purpose of the conference
◦ Inform the attendees about the service providers that will be in the conference
◦ Go over the makeup of the circle (the opening, icebreaker, values round, body and closing).
◦ Emphasis the need to listen to the needs that are spoken in the room.
◦ Reassure every participant that there will be a clear plan established at the conclusion of the circle
◦ Remind the participant that the conference is a process and the first COSA is just the beginning of the process.
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Creating A Safe Space
Ask the student who she would like to be in the conference for peer support.
Meet with the student and her peer supporter so that they will trust the process.
Make sure that you have prepared the opening, ice breaker, what you will do to establish values, know what questions you will ask in the body and make sure you have an encouraging closing.
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Experiencing The Process
Experience is the best teacher Go slow in order to go (You will not stick with the
process if it doesn’t become a lifestyle) Allow them to experience the process Introduce them to the process Remember Building relationships takes time Give them literature to read and discuss it during
your community building Equip the staff to facilitate the process in staff
meetings and during PD Practice having intentional conversations with
one another
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Restorative Center
A space that belongs to everyone on the campus
A space where everyone can connect (students, parents, staff) can build relationships
A safe space that is safe to listen and disclose A safe space where everyone feels that they
belong A safe space to explore beliefs and values A space where everyone feels heard
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Restorative Coordinators Role
Build healthy relationships in the school and community
Support the teachers to do community building in the classrooms
Facilitate various circle types
Help to reduce exclusionary practices
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Deal with the question of Time
Human need must trump time
Give teachers the freedom to utilize circles in the classroom
Provide suggested times to do community building circles
Set aside time to do check in, check up and check out circles
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Facts
You need your staff to buy in
You must trust the process
It is imperative that you allow your staff to experience the process
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail
It will take TIME
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016
Resources
Restorative Discipline Practices: A Journey in Implementation by a Community of Texas Educators
Chasing Smoke Documentary: www.elifeanew.com
Restorative Practice and Special Needs: A Practical Guide to Working Restoratively with Young People by Nick Burnett and Margaret Thorsborne
Life Anew Restorative Justice Inc. Copyright 2016