Center For Community Justice Incorporated

Transition recovery coaching program (trc): the goal of this program is to provide support to formerly incarcerated people who are returning to their homes in elkhart county. The program director visits people who are incarcerated to begin the process of re entry even before they are released. The program trains and supports volunteer coaches who help formerly incarcerated people to set and meet personal goals that allow them to become contributing citizens of elkhart county. Volunteers support the person who is re entering as long as the support is needed, surrounding this person with non judgemental care as they return to the demands of life outside of prison. There is currently a waiting list for this program.

Restorative justice in education liaison program: the center has partnered with elkhart community schools to provide personnel to support selected school buildings in implementing restorative practices in order to prevent school violence. This project will provide support to the seleted schools through two forms: direct facilitated restorative services and training and capacity building. Direct services will be provided to students through community building preventative measures and conflict resolution intervention. The project will also train school staff in preventing school violence through the nurturing of healthy relationships, repair of harm and trasformation of conflict, and the building of a just and equitable learning environment. The project will also provide additional implementation support to help schools establish sustainable structures for continuation of restorative justice philosophy and practices after the project ends. Primary activities include facilitating community building circles in classrooms and working with students and staff for repair of harm and conflict resolution processes as needed. Activities also include providing training and implementation support for school staff on circle processes, restorative chats, and other restorative and sel practices. Project staff will then provide follow-up coaching and support as teachers implement the practices. Project staff will coordinate and chair the school rje leadership team and work with them to develop and oversee progress on school implementation plans, and collect and analyze data. The program coorinator will coodinate a multidisciplinary team to support and enhance the partnership.