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Black Family Development, Inc.
(BFDI) has partnered with the International
Institute for Restorative Practices
(IIRP), an accredited graduate
school, to lead restorative practices
initiatives in our region. BFDI and
IIRP will work together to implement
programs that have proven effective
in reducing violence and increasing
family and community engagement.
Please consider making a bold and
courageous decision to join us in developing
a Restorative Practices environment
in the City of Detroit. We
will make a difference, and the time is
now.
Program Overview
The Black Family Development Inc.
(BFDI) Restorative Practices (RP) program
is a community-based initiative to
implement restorative practices throughout
the city of Detroit. This initiative will
facilitate a Train-the-Trainer series with
community partners who work with
youth, parents and families. The initial
targeted geographical areas will correspond
to the six (6) Skillman Foundation’s
Good Neighborhoods.
Restorative Practices are evidencebased
models, which include Circles,
Family-Group Conferencing, Council of
Sages, and Victim-Offender Conferencing.
These models have been effective
with (1) repairing and rebuilding relationships,
(2) increasing problem-solving and
conflict resolution skills. The restorative
models provide a safe and nonjudgmental
environment for all parties to
express their feelings and emotional
needs.
The dynamic of the circle process promotes
healing, connectedness and identifies
how the members and the community
repair the harm together. The process
facilitates collective accountability;
balancing family, community and society
without denying individual(s) responsibility.
Program Philosophy
The philosophy of BFDI and the
Restorative Practices (RP) program
is that all community members are
important, that they are all connected,
sharing similar values and
needs, and that it is this connection
which will empower members to
seek transformation. Restorative
approaches draw on these similarities
to strengthen and rebuild relationships
with youth, families and
communities that have been
harmed in some way. BFDI and the
RP program believe that people
need and value human connectivity.
Circles promote the transformation
from “I” to “Us” approach.
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