With the Hosting Program, faith communities of all faiths - Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and other - act as hosts of restorative processes that happen in their local communities. The Hosting Program is a joint project by Shalem and the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP) - Canada. Hosting connects deeply with themes of hospitality and sanctuary that are central to all of the world's major religions.
Currently we are providing hosting for Family Group Decision-Making or Conferencing meetings. In Family Group Decision-Making, at the point at which a child is about to become a permanent Crown Ward (that is, a ward of the Children's Aid Society), the Children's Aid Society (CAS) convenes a meeting of the entire extended family and whatever supports they wish to have present. The Children's Aid Society begins the meeting with a "strengths discovery" of the family (as in WrapAround) and then outlines their safety "bottom lines". All of the professionals then leave the room and the family is left to come up with a plan for the care of the child. If the plan meets the CAS's safety requirements, it is adopted.
Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM) is a highly effective process and is becoming a legislated requirement in more and more jurisdictions around North America. For more on FGDM, this link is a good place to start.
Shalem and IIRP-Canada are currently working with Blue Hills Child and Family Centre, based in Aurora, Ontario, to provide hosting for Family Group Decision-Making in the Central East Region of Ontario. Blue Hills organizes all of the FGDM meetings in this region, in partnership with The Simcoe County, York, Durham, Kawartha-Haliburton and Northumberland Children's Aid Societies. We are also actively exploring other areas of Ontario, including the Kitchener/Waterloo area.
FGDM meetings typically require space that has multiple rooms, a kitchen and a nursery, and they are best held at a neutral site local to the family. Shalem provides an orientation for faith community volunteers and follow-up support, and ensures that all legal and liability issues are covered. Hosting is an ideal way for a faith community to live out its mission in their local community.
We are rapidly signing up host congregations, and more sites are needed. If you or your faith community is interested in becoming a host site, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Shalem's partner in delivering the Hosting Program, Stan Baker, for more information.
Shalem and IIRP-Canada have also developed and piloted processes for training faith communities to act as the hosts of restorative justice conferences that may happen in your local community. This program is also available to interested communities.
Shalem has assembled a distinguished Advisory Council to the Hosting Program. The members are:
Mark Yantzi, (Executive Director Emeritus, Community Justice Initiatives)
Shannon Moore (Brock University)
Rick Kelly (George Brown College)
Bruce Schenk (Director, IIRP-Canada)
Stan Baker (Restorative Practices Coordinator, Kawartha-Pine Ridge District School Board)
Judah Oudshoorn (Service Coordinator, Community Justice Initiatives)
Irena Lawrenson, (Retired Inspector, RCMP)
Dorothy Vaandering, (Memorial University)