BELFAST — The University of Maine Hutchinson Center and the Restorative Justice Project of Belfast will offer a six-session program, “Foundations in School-based Restorative Practices,” beginning June 27 for school-based teams.

Subsequent dates are June 28, Sept. 16, Oct. 25, Nov. 18 and Dec. 13. All sessions are held 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast.

The program will use a team-based, cohort model. Schools must register in teams of up to five members, including at least one representative from administration. Schools that are unable to assemble a team of at least three people are invited to send individuals to the Foundations in Restorative Practices Certificate Program beginning Dec. 5.

The Foundations in School-based Restorative Practices Program is designed to meet schools where they are on their journey by offering a strong conceptual foundation, a supportive learning environment, and planning tools and resources to tailor to specific needs. Teams will gain a strong foundation in restorative practices, and be better able to assess future support and development needs as they grow toward restorative culture change.

The program is led by two professionals in the field: Carrie Sullivan and Sarah Matari.

As health educator and advocate, Sullivan has championed policies and programs aimed at improving individual and community health. She promotes restorative practices as a framework that honors and invites the voices of all stakeholders into shaping lasting solutions to the deepest challenges. Sullivan joined the Restorative Justice Project in 2016 as the assistant director and was named executive director in 2018.

Matari began early in her legal career to provide restorative mediation services to New York City-based institutions and communities. She delivers mediation and restorative circle trainings to staff and students, and facilitates and leads restorative interventions in order to repair harm in the community.

The cost of the program is $600 per person for the six–session program, and includes materials, a light breakfast and catered lunch. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Upon completion, participants will earn a UMaine certificate in school-based restorative practices and 4.2 CEUs/42 contact hours.

For more information or to request reasonable accommodations, contact Michelle Patten, 338.8002;michelle.patten@maine.edu.

Registration is online: hutchinsoncenter.umaine.edu/professional-development.