Applying Restorative Justice Practices to Support System-Involved Youth

Trainer: Dr. Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW

Date: November 4th, 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: Virtual – Zoom

Agency: Fred Finch

Participants must complete registration via the Fred Finch website in order to gain full access to the training course.

COMPLETE REGISTRATION HERE:

https://www.fredfinch.org/events-1/applying-restorative-justice-practices-to-better-serve-support-system-involved-youth

Fred Finch provides this training in conjunction with Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and Alameda County through Title IV-E Funding.

You can attend this training at no cost if you or your agency provides services and/or support to youth who are involved in the Alameda County foster care or juvenile justice systems.

Those who do not meet these eligibility requirements will be put on a wait list (or notified of their ineligibility to attend) and only California registrants from Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Solano, and Tuolumne County who support system involved youth will be admitted to the training if we have sufficient registration by those that are eligible and there is still space available.

Access more Fred Finch Trainings Here:

​​https://www.fredfinch.org/training

Training Description

This introductory training explores how restorative justice (RJ) practices can be applied to better serve/support system-involved youth, including those impacted by child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental or behavioral health systems. Rooted in trauma-informed care, participants will examine the principles of RJ, the effects of systemic barriers, and the importance of centering youth voice in conflict resolution and healing. Through case studies, facilitated circles, role-play activities, and small group discussions, attendees will gain practical skills to implement restorative dialogues, conferences, and circles in their service/support settings. Special emphasis will be placed on adapting RJ approaches to address the unique needs and strengths of foster youth and other system-involved youth in California. By the end of the training, participants will leave with actionable strategies to repair harm, build trust, and promote resilience within the youth and families they serve.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Explain at least 2 restorative justice (RJ) principles and their relevance to system-involved youth.
• Identify 2 ways that trauma and systemic barriers impact the behavior and engagement of system-involved youth.
• Apply 2 trauma-informed strategies in restorative practices.

Agenda

1:00—1:15PM Welcome and Objectives.

1:15—1:30PM Introductions.

1:30—1:45PM Define “system-involved youth” in the California context.

1:45—2:00PM Explore intersecting systems: child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental/behavioral health.

2:00—2:15PM Core principles (relationship-centered, accountability, repairing harm).

2:15—2:30PM Comparison to punitive models.

2:30—2:45PM BREAK (CE hours not offered for this time).

2:45—3:00PM Discussion: Why RJ matters for system-involved youth.

3:00—3:15PM Recognizing the impact of trauma and historical oppression.

3:15—3:30PM Case examples of RJ with system-involved youth.

3:30—3:45PM Identifying systemic barriers (policies, biases, power dynamics).

3:45—4:00PM Reflection & Action, Questions & Answers, Closing.

Meet Our Trainer

Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW, is a nationally distinguished Black social worker, consultant, published author, educator, and facilitator with extensive expertise in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. As the Founder and CEO of Marya Wright Consulting LLC, Dr. Wright is dedicated to empowering system-involved families through awareness, services, and education. She also provides consultation, training, and facilitation to agencies supporting these communities.

Dr. Wright earned her Master of Social Work from Cal State East Bay, specializing in child welfare policy and research, and her Bachelor of Social Work from San Diego State University, with a focus on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where she focused on advancing equal opportunity and justice within the child welfare system.

As a community leader, Dr. Wright prioritizes relationship-building, networking, and stakeholder collaboration to address the social and economic challenges her clients face, advocating for justice and peace. She has served as a qualified expert witness and forensic social worker and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the National Phi Alpha Honor Society. Additionally, she is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and its California Chapter.

Dr. Wright’s research interests include child sexual exploitation, foster care, and algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. She has published articles and lectured extensively on these topics. Since January 2020, she has taught sociology and social work courses at Cal State East Bay, focusing on sexualities, child welfare policy, family sociology, and sexual violence. Currently, she serves as a professor in the graduate program, teaching generalist practice, human behavior and the social environment, and advanced practice with children, youth, and families.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.