Family & Youth Restorative Services Program

PROJECTS

Partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools

Students who are responsible for an incident in which the district receives a recommendation for expulsion are referred to the LRC for restorative family conferencing. Students take accountability for their behavior and, along with family and school personnel, plan for success in a temporary school placement. If the plan succeeds, a second restorative conference is held to determine if the student prefers to make their temporary school permanent or return to the prior school. In either result , a new plan for further success is created, and the student has successfully avoided an expulsion on his or her record.

Co-Parent Court

As part of a pilot problem-solving court led by Judge Bruce Peterson of the 4th Judicial District (Hennepin County), the LRC provides mediation or restorative family conferencing to unmarried parents in order to create a plan for each to remain cooperatively involved in their child’s life. Other partners—the University of Minnesota Extension, Domestic Abuse Project, Father Project, and Northpoint—provide case management and parent education services.

Child Protection Community Partner

When difficult decisions need to be made regarding safe, permanent placement for children, the family is referred to the Family Group Conferencing Unit of Hennepin County Child Protection. The LRC serves as a community partner to the county, co-facilitating restorative family conferences.

Juvenile Diversion

By arrangement with police and prosecution, and in partnership with other organizations, the LRC receives referrals of select juveniles. The completion of a restorative family conference in response to an alleged offense typically provides more attention, accountability, and resolution of underlying problems than the alternative of juvenile court.

PROGRAM VALUES

Families have the ability to build on strengths, address harm, and move towards reconciliation and healing. They are in the best position to determine the course of their own restoration.
As much as possible, our communities and families should come together to solve problems before intervention from the court system becomes necessary.
Restorative justice brings healing not only to individuals but to their communities as well.
Restoring offenders and healing victims is of greater value than punishment and vengeance.

METHODS

Mediation

Mediation allows two or more people to come together voluntarily with a trained facilitator to find points of resolution to a conflict. When an agreement is reached, it may be written up to preserve and clarify its meaning.

Family Group Decision-Making

Family Group Decision-Making, sometimes referred to as Restorative Family Conferencing, is an empowering process in which families seeking help can identify and focus on their strengths as they develop a Family Plan that addresses concerns such as: child safety, co-parenting, or any other major issue. Family Group Decision-Making engages families in a culturally competent way and helps connect them with supports in their community. (At the LRC, we interpret "families" broadly: family is defined by caring, and can include people who care about the children or other adults involved.)

RESULTS

Connection

We connect our clients with culturally relevant organizations and social services that complement our restorative justice work.

Empowerment

We help individuals and communities take pride in themselves and in their ability to handle their own conflicts.

We improve communication pathways between those who have caused harm and those who have been harmed so that all parties may heal and plan for a better future.

LRC RESTORATIVE JUSTICE STAFF

Program Director

Simone Abel
sabel@legalrightscenter.org
612.677.2126

Coordinator and Family Group Conference Facilitator

Verónica González Gaona
vgaon@legalrightscenter.org
612.677.2129

Family Group Conference Facilitator

Sylvia Gutierrez
sguti@legalrightscenter.org
612.677.2140