Today, for our community Heroes of Public Education, we would like to honor and Jeremy Simko and Natalia Chimbo-Andrade from Community Bridges who has partnered with PHS, PCS, and RCMS to help provide for our restorative justice program.
During the summer of 2017, we were looking for solutions to provide kids with no cost, no insurance program to combat---- at risk behaviors on campus. Our restorative justice program was created to provide wrap around services for our students in learning, community service, and mentorship programs in exchange for suspension time. This program has stretched across our community teaming up with organizations like Payson PD, Payson Probation, Gila County Health Department, Arizona Youth Partnership, National Guard as well as the Mayor of Payson. This program’s success has been measured through student completion and achievement, being adopted into other school communities like Globe and Miami, and even though recognized by the governor's office, where they noted our restorative justice program is the model.
Recently, we have started another discussion with Community Bridges on what it would look like to provide no cost, co insurance adolescent counseling services for students in grief, in at risk behaviors and substance abuse to name a few. If everything works as planned, we will be able to provide services to students like we haven’t seen before or at least during my time here in Payson.
We are honored to be in such a strong partnership with Community Bridges providing impactful opportunities to our students. Thank you for all you do for our students here at PHS, PCS, and RCMS!