Violence Prevention

Violence prevention starts with caring relationships. When there is a break in community, there has to be something to encourage those in conflict towards repair. That "something" is a sense of trust and a handful of supportive relationships - a sense of belonging. The tools below, Relationship Mapping and Restorative Practices, support DPS staff and students to intentionally create a school climate that students want to protect.

Ensure Caring Connections

Faculty and staff can ensure that each student has a connection with at least one caring adult through Relationship Mapping. The process is straight-forward: Create a spreadsheet of students, have every staff color code their interaction with those students, and ensure that those students who do not have strong relationships are assigned a support. Find out more at Making Caring Common.

What is Restorative Practices?

This short video highlights the principle of relationship-building, which is central to the DPS goal of ensuring a safe and caring school environment.

IIRP + Durham Public Schools

To learn more about restorative practices and the impact of successful implementation on schools, visit the IIRP website.