Implementation of a School-Based Diversion Initiative to Advance Restorative Discipline
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION
Co-authored by CHDI's Jeana Bracey, PhD, Michelle Delaney, MHP, Jeffrey Vanderploeg, PhD, and Jason Lang, PhD, this mixed-methods study examines early implementation of the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI), a school-community partnership—piloted by CHDI—designed to reduce reliance on exclusionary discipline and support restorative practices.
Results indicated that school leaders' knowledge of district discipline policies, community-based supports, trauma-informed practices, and restorative approaches increased significantly through participation in SBDI.
Final findings suggested that while diversion and restorative approaches can support shifts in school disciplinary practices, successful implementation requires sustained investment in training, cross-sector coordination, and structural supports.
Additional authors in this study are Malina Her, Sabrina Uva, and Beth Russell of the UConn Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
