Raphah Institute

AKA:

Davidson County Restorative Justice Program for Juvenile Offenders

Description:

Raphah Institute (!€œRaphah!€) is a Tennessee nonprofit with a mission to partner with marginalized communities to design and implement solutions that restore access to the vital resources they need to heal and thrive. !€œRaphah!€ is a Hebrew verb that means !€œto heal,!€ literally !€œto mend by stitching,!€ as one might repair a torn garment. Raphah strives to mend communities impacted by violence or systemic challenges to promote restoration, repair, and healing. Agency does this through restorative justice initiatives that provide alternatives to prosecution in the criminal-legal system and by supporting children and their caregivers to strengthen lifelong resilience.

Agency addresses issues surrounding youth incarceration and victim trauma by using restorative practices in felony juvenile court cases. Through their Restorative Justice Diversion program, together all parties talk about the harm caused and its impact and ways to repair it. Trained facilitators help connect the responsible party with the harmed party as well as with supportive family and community members. Agency also offers the Early Embrace Initiative, which works with caregivers and early childhood educators to help women to set up home-based day care centers. The Early Embrace (EE) initiative focuses on empowering caregivers, including both early childhood educators and parents, who belong to families living at or below 200% of the national poverty line. Agency aims to enhance access to early childhood education by supporting women interested in establishing and operating their early childhood education businesses from home, by offering five critical resources to these caregivers: Business Coaching, Educational Coaching, Licensure Coaching. Start-up/Enhancement Grants and Basic Income Support. This initiative assists caregivers who are located in low-income communities, are in the early stages of establishing their businesses and are entering the child care center authorization and/or licensing process. The program includes a focus on supporting Muslim and Latina/o communities. In addition to coaching and financial resources, the program also serves as a means for parents within impoverished communities to access essential resources such as healthcare, education, social support, financial assistance, and adequate housing.

Hours:

Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Intake Process:

The Restorative Justice Diversion program requires a referral from Davidson or Shelby County Juvenile Court for ages 12-17, but it also accepts community referrals, which are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Families and women wishing to start home-based early childhood education centers may call or email to apply for the programs.

Program Fees:

No Fee for initial application

Languages:

Spanish

Eligibility:

Children currently involved in felony juvenile justice cases (ages 12-17) and their persons harmed for the Restorative Justice Diversion program; families who are at or below 200% of Federal poverty level with children ages 0-5 for the Early Embrace Initiative and women wishing to start day care centers in their homes in Davidson County with a particular focus on Muslim and Latino(a) families.

Handicap Accessible?

Yes

Is Shelter?

No

Date of Official Change:

May 1, 2024

Wishlist:

Board Members

Volunteer Opportunities:

See website for details: https://www.raphah.org/join-us

Employer ID:

921181441

Year Incorporated:

2017

Address Listings

Contacts

Phone Numbers