Join us at the 2025 Restorative Practices Summer Educators' Institute from June 9-11!

How Does the Conflict Center Approach Restorative Practices?

The Conflict Center employs our unique Five Strategy approach to Restorative Practices which focuses on building Restorative Practices skills within a school and intentionally shaping the internal culture–shifting from traditional, punitive discipline to a restorative practice approach.

ASSESSMENT

A consensus-based, focus-group style survey which examines the existing restorative practices included in the school’s infrastructure, leadership, and culture and protocols. This tool assesses the school’s readiness for RP implementation.

PRIORITIZATION AND PLANNING

With insight from the assessment data, TCC works with the school to create a tailored road map, identifying the school’s assets, needs and priorities to move forward with successful restorative practices implementation.

TRAINING

TCC offers a robust menu of interactive workshops that are individualized to meet school needs as outlined by the Prioritization Road Map. Topics include (but are not limited to): foundations of RP, circle practice & facilitation, and implicit bias.

COACHING

Through a process of creating a vision, overcoming roadblocks, and developing new skills, highly trained RP facilitators empower staff and administrators to connect RP to school goals and give them ownership of RP implementation.

SUSTAINABILITY

By working with school leaders to institutionalize restorative practices in all aspects of school culture, from responding to conflicts in the classroom to school policies and overall school culture, TCC’s Five Strategy approach sets the foundation for sustainable restorative school culture.

Sample RP Process with Schools

Initial Connection and Planning
In-Person Facilitated Assessment
Prioritization and Planning
Facilitation of Tailored Training Workshops and Coaching
Feedback From RP Team Every Few Months
On-Going Evaluation for All Staff

Disruption of School-to-Prison Pipeline

The school-to-prison pipeline is a metaphor used to describe the increasing patterns of contact that students have with the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems as a result of the traditional punitive practices implemented by educational institutions.

Restorative Practices reduce the disproportionality high disciplinary referrals, suspensions and expulsions of children of color and; therefore, reduce the odds that students will subsequently become involved in the juvenile justice system.

Core Conflict Center Trainings

Restorative Practices in Action

Building relationships that are central to community
Addressing misbehavior and harm in ways that strengthen relationships
Focusing on the harm done rather than the rule that is broken
Giving voice to the person harmed
Engaging in collaborative problem-solving
Has a dramatic personal effect on practitioners and others involved in the process

Restorative Practices 101: Philosophy and Foundational Tenets of RP

Restorative Practices 201: Practical Skills for Community Building

Restorative Practices 301: Facilitating Formal Circles to Repair Harm

To schedule a training at your institution, or learn more about our 5 Strategies, please contact our Restorative Practices Program Manager at 303.865.5624 or amber.ford@conflictcenter.org