Kids First's Youth Peace Project (YPP) provides services in the Cedar Rapids schools. YPP uses restorative practices to resolve conflict that arises between students or between students and staff.
Services at each school include:
One-on-one sessions: A Kids First peace facilitator meets individually with those involved in a conflict. As students reflect on what happened, they are taught new skills (self-awareness, managing emotions, considering others’ perspectives). Kids First uses a toolbox of conflict-resolution resources—reflection worksheets, videos, articles, and guided activities—to help students gain critical thinking skills. These skills help them handle conflict better in the future.
Responsive circles: If appropriate, the peace facilitator brings participants in a conflict together in a restorative justice circle (mediation). Participants discuss what happened, how each person was affected, and decide together how to repair the harm. In the days following a circle, the facilitator checks with participants to ensure the conflict is fully resolved and commitments followed, such as helping the janitor clean up the cafeteria after a food fight.
YPP promotes civility by encouraging respectful interactions in conferences or circles.
Classroom circles: Kids First assists teachers in leading proactive classroom circles that teach important critical thinking skills like listening and empathy, the building blocks to conflict resolution. Peace facilitators also lead responsive circles to address conflict that has affected the entire class. These circles support teachers and schools in integrating restorative practices.
Re-entry: When a school suspends a student, the Kids First facilitator helps ensure a positive transition back to school by leading a re-entry circle with staff/administration, the student, and their caregiver. A successful re-entry helps reduce repeat suspensions.
Why Kids First?
Kids First’s mission is to give children a voice in divorce, custody, and other conflicts. Kids engaged in conflict often come from split families where conflict-resolution has not been modeled well. At the center of Kids First’s work is a focus on conflict-resolution and changing patterns of behavior to create more positive relationships for kids.
Kids First excels in understanding situations from kids’ perspectives and in mediating disputes. The Kids First approach distinguishes itself by considering problems first from the child’s point of view. The Kids First team also has extensive training and more than a decade’s experience meeting with hostile parties and helping them find common ground. Combining these strengths positions Kids First singularly to offer restorative justice for kids in the school setting.
Program Design
YPP works in conjunction with the individual schools' leadership and teaching staff. Kids First offers restorative circles to build relationships with kids, foster community, and increase students’ social skills. When conflicts arise, those affected are referred to a Kids First facilitator. The facilitator leads circles with affected parties, which may include students and/or staff. This process results in amicable agreements and reduced conflict. Restorative justice interrupts youth cycles of violence.
Learn More About Our Project
The Youth Peace Project was featured by KCRG. It was also recognized by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation at a Celebration of Community event. Learn more about our project in this short video shown at the event, highlighting Good People, Good Ideas.
We Need Your Help
Kids First seeks investors who share the concern about youth violence and want to partner with Kids First to take preventative action. Like Kids First’s other programs, this project is innovative, evidence-based, and follows best practices successfully implemented around the country. This project has the power to transform a school’s culture and can be replicated with broad application to benefit an entire community.