YOUTH: EDUCATION, ADVOCACY & RESTORATIVE SERVICES  

Education
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! 
                     

PictureY:EARS Attorneys and Restorative Facilitators
Restorative Services Projects

Minneapolis Public Schools, St. Paul Public Schools

Youth who are at risk for permanent disengagement from their educational pathway, including those who have had incidents that led to a recommendation for expulsion or administrative transfer, are referred to the LRC for restorative Family Group Conferencing. Student strengths are recognized and become the basis by which youth, family, and school, agree on planned steps (with shared accountability and support) that will lead to improved academic and behavioral results.. 

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The Legal Rights Center uses Educational Family Group Conferencing to work with Minneapolis students, families, and schools to problem-solve the issues that have led to a Hennepin County Attorney referral for truancy or educational neglect.

Juvenile Diversion 

By arrangement with the Minneapolis Police Department and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, and in partnership with other organizations, the LRC receives referrals of select juveniles.  The completion of a restorative Family Group 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.


About Family Group Conferencing
Family Group Conferencing is an empowering process in which youth and families identify and focus on their strengths as they develop a Plan to solve problems in a supportive and mutually accountable manner. Family Group Conferencing 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. 
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2018-19 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows
 PictureThe LRC receivied the All My Relations: Equity in Action Award from the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership














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​LRC RESTORATIVE SERVICES CONTACTS


Program Lead
Chelsea Schmitz-Gillam
cschmitz@legalrightscenter.org
612.677.2126