2-Day Restorative Practices Circle Certificate Training (April 2025)

The Restorative Practice Trainings are facilitated by experienced practitioners in the field of restorative practices. This training is designed for community members, organizations, schools and criminal justice institutions who desire to understand the basic principles, values and processes of restorative practices as an intervention in our society. Participants will receive an introduction to the restorative practice continuum through affective language, small impromptu conferencing, community building circles, and restorative justice conferencing. The overall mission is to create caring community climates based on respect, responsibility, and repair of harm. Participants will learn and experience the difference between restorative and retributive (or punitive) justice through personal stories and experiences.

Through short lectures, dyads, small group role plays, large group discussion, community building games participants will engage in multi levels of learning practices to keep you thinking and moving. Our goal is to keep the space interactive while giving participant hands on practical skills to use right away. We welcome participants, but not limited to, a variety of fields, including the following:

• Education (primary, secondary and post-secondary)
• Criminal justice and policing
• Social work and family services
• Counseling
• Psychology
• The non-profit sector
• Community development
• Government
• Non-profit & For profit business

We will cover the basic principles

• Elements and Stages of the Circle process
• How to develop shared Values and Guideline for your community
• Defining Restorative Practice and Restorative Justice (restorative vs retributive justice)
• Restorative Practice Social Discipline Window and Continuum.
• Processes of restorative practices
• Using circle interventions in schools, communities, organizations and courts.

This training will be held in person and adhere to NYS COVID-19 protocols.

Participants must attend 80% of the training to receive a certificate.

Host or Publisher Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition