Planting the Seeds of Belonging: Restorative Justice and Therapeutic Horticulture With Justice-Involved Youths

• In Event: Listening to Youth Voices in Research, Education, and Social Action

Abstract

Restorative justice and therapeutic horticulture are strength-based community interventions demonstrating promise for rehabilitating youth offenders. However, the combined impact of these approaches has yet to be empirically assessed, and minimal research has used qualitative methods to represent the voices of marginalized youths in the justice system. The present mixed-methods study focused on a program using a dual implementation of restorative justice and therapeutic horticulture, which we hypothesized would promote a sense of belonging and foster resilience among youth. Survey measures showed that youths’ sense of belonging in the program significantly predicted their perceived confidence/responsibility. Thematic analysis of participants’ written reflections highlighted the beneficial effects of the program via fostering a sense of belongingness and cultivating a resilient future mindset.

Authors

• Rhiannon Weakley, Reed College

• Jennifer Henderlong Corpus, Reed College