Walsh University, in partnership with Canton City Schools, has been awarded a $652,707 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to implement a Canton City Middle School Violence Intervention and Prevention Program. The program, which will run through September 30, 2027, aims to address school-based conflict and students’ socio-emotional needs in Canton City Middle Schools through a trauma-informed, restorative approach that empowers students and staff.
The grant, awarded under the STOP School Violence Program, will support the development and implementation of innovative strategies to reduce conflict, improve school climate, and prevent future incidents in four Canton City middle schools. This collaborative effort includes Walsh University's Center for Restorative Justice and Community Health and will serve over 1,100 7th and 8th grade students.
Dr. Michelle Bemiller, Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice in Walsh’s Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences, who also serves as Director of the Center for Restorative Justice and Community Health, explains, “This program will equip students, teachers, and staff with the tools needed to effectively recognize, respond to, and prevent conflict in the classroom. By integrating restorative practices, we aim to foster a supportive and accountable school culture where all students feel safe and respected.”
Gary Kandel, Director of Secondary Education, College, and Career for Canton City Schools, said “This collaboration represents a significant step toward creating a more supportive educational environment for the students of Canton City Middle Schools. This three-year grant will allow Canton City Middle Schools to train groups of middle school staff and students in restorative practices, ultimately creating a more positive and safer environment for our students.”
Dr. Bemiller also commented, “I am thrilled to help contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive school climate where all students are viewed as important contributors to the Canton City School community and leave with increased emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills. This collaboration with Canton City Schools is an exciting opportunity to implement restorative practices that focus on improving school climate through the creation of middle school student response teams, the development of peer leaders who specialize in these practices, and increasing knowledge of staff and students on how to recognize and appropriately address conflict in schools.”
The program’s two-pronged approach includes:
Trauma-Informed Training: Providing professional development for teachers, school counselors, resource officers, and select students to recognize behavioral challenges and implement restorative strategies to address them.
Restorative Circles and Student Support: Introducing restorative practices to support students who have been involved in incidents of conflict, and promote positive student engagement.
Dr. Bemiller will serve as the Restorative Practice Coordinator to oversee training and mentorship, and Walsh University undergraduate mentors will assist with training middle school students and co-advise the student-led restorative justice club.
Expected outcomes include a reduction in school conflict, improved student engagement, and a more positive school climate. Additionally, the grant will fund a K-12 Stop School Violence Conference to share effective practices and promote conflict prevention programs on a national scale.
