Helping Older Teens Powerfully Engage
The HOPE Project provides restorative justice-based court hearings and supportive circles for youth in foster care, both in the year leading up to their 18th birthday and beyond. It also provides training and support for child welfare professionals, fostering stronger community connections and instilling greater hope as youth transition into adulthood.
What are restorative practices?
“All humans are hardwired to connect. Just as we need food, shelter and clothing, human beings also need strong and meaningful relationships to thrive…”
Mission
Improving connection, compassion and building community. Creating a space where our youth are deeply heard and are co-creators in their new life. Working WITH our youth to empower them to make positive behavioral choices. Supporting our child welfare professionals, whose significant care changes lives, and for whom we are deeply grateful.
Disconnection leads too many young adults to leave the foster care system that is meant to help them.
HOPE turns our current legal system upside-down
It moves away from an adversarial model; utilizing restorative practices and empathic communication to build community and create an emotionally safe space. HOPE calls upon all involved to hear each other without judgment, and to believe that things can change for the better. HOPE utilizes and values the community itself as the mechanism for healing; joining child welfare professionals from many organizations with a singular mission.
