Healing Futures Restorative Justice Facilitator

The Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project’s Healing Futures is Philadelphia’s first pre-charge restorative justice diversion program. Each year, Healing Futures aims to facilitate 25-50 cases in which young people who have committed harm are diverted from the criminal legal system and participate in a restorative process that promotes healing for everyone impacted. 

Healing Futures Facilitators’ responsibilities begin as soon as a case is referred from a systems partner and end when the young person’s plan to repair the harm is completed. The facilitator also supports with logistics and supplies for each meeting, building and maintaining relationships with community partners, and maintaining accurate and up-to-date records for each case. This position reports directly to the Healing Futures Program Manager and participates in weekly supervision check-ins with the Program Manager. 

Responsibilities

Training: 

• Participate in regular restorative justice training sessions as directed by Healing Futures Program Manager and Program Coordinator.
• During onboarding process, review and provide feedback on all Healing Futures training and reading materials.

Case Facilitation: 

• Make initial contact and meet with youth and caregivers/family​—​begin to build relationships and restoratively support youth in taking accountability.
• Meet with, prepare, and restoratively support person harmed.
• Meet with, prepare, and restoratively support identified community and support people.
• Coordinate Restorative Community Conferences (RCC)—​time, location, persons attending, food needs, travel, access needs, etc.
• Facilitate RCCs—​ hold space for everyone’s realities, experiences, stories, and needs; facilitate the creation of a restorative plan that meets the needs of the person(s) harmed, community members, youth’s caregivers/family, and the responsible youth themselves.
• Distribute and collect evaluations to all participants after RCCs and after the restorative plan completion. 
• Maintain consistent communication with young people during their restorative plan completion process. 
• Maintain consistent communication with the Program Manager and Program Coordinator throughout the process.
• Throughout the process, input detailed case notes into case records following each meeting.
• Create completion packet for youth and coordinate final celebration with youth and caregivers/family.

Community Partnership: 

• Build relationships with neighborhood-based organizations and community partners to participate in restorative conferences and restorative plan completion as appropriate.
• Work closely with YASP's Social Work Director to identify and connect Healing Futures participants with community-based resources and supports.
• Participate in regular meetings with system partners and partner organizations.

Additional responsibilities as assigned by the Healing Futures Program Manager.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Knowledge of the values, principles, and practices of restorative and transformative justice.
• An understanding of the harms caused by mass incarceration and a commitment to ending mass incarceration and creating restorative, transformative responses to harm and violence.
• Excitement about engaging in group study and reading on restorative justice principles and practices.
• Experience working in a community-based setting. 
• Commitment to the principles of youth leadership and respect for young people’s voices and agency. 
• Proficiency with Google Drive and Google Workspace and/or willingness to learn.
• Strong work ethic, communication skills and ability to follow through on responsibilities. 
• Flexibility with schedule and willingness to occasionally work evenings and weekends.
• Direct experience in conflict transformation and/or restorative justice facilitation is a plus.
• Individuals who have been directly impacted by the carceral system and/or interpersonal violence are strongly encouraged to apply.