Balanced & Restorative Justice
Mediation & Restorative Services’ Balanced & Restorative Justice (BARJ) program helps Muskegon County youth repair harm, build skills, and stay connected to family and school. Depending on the case, youth (and their parent/guardian) participate in individual restorative sessions, group accountability panels, or victim–offender mediations that give those harmed a voice while guiding youth to accept responsibility, make amends, and practice safer choices. BARJ also partners with schools to address truancy, bullying/conflict, and suspension/expulsion risks, and runs a multi-session gun-violence intervention led by staff with lived experience. Services are delivered in person or virtually (including at school, the detention center, or M&RS offices) to eliminate barriers; because referrals frequently come from Juvenile Court, schools, police, and families, the approach is coordinated and trauma-informed.
The program engages whole families: while only the youth is counted in reporting, each case typically involves 2–8 people (parents/guardians and, when applicable, victims and their families). M&RS uses brief surveys and verbal debriefs to track impact and adjust supports. In the first half of the current year, the team served 98 youth (nearly the full-year target); 94.9% reported a positive change in behavior or intent to change, and 82.7% reported increased social–emotional supports after participation. A recent school-referred bullying case illustrates the model: a facilitated meeting with both students and parents produced a safety plan and communication agreement, and the school reported no further incidents.
Why this supports United Way’s mission/priorities
BARJ advances Youth Success by reducing exclusionary discipline, improving attendance and engagement, and increasing social–emotional supports—all drivers of on-time grade progression and graduation. For ALICE households, no-cost, flexible delivery prevents lost work hours, court costs, and transportation burdens. United Way funding keeps services free to families and also unlocks a 75% state match, sustaining timely response as schools request more restorative options.