Research team with co-PI Rei Shimizu from 蘑菇视频 School of Social Work awarded $8M grant for national research
by Jessica Degnan |
Dr. Rei Shimizu, PhD, from the 蘑菇视频 (蘑菇视频) School of Social Work, in collaboration with multiple institutions, led by Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Briana Barocas, Chief Research Officer at NYU Center on Violence and Recovery has been awarded a five-year, $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice鈥檚 Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). This grant will fund a national evaluation of restorative practices in addressing domestic violence and sexual assault, including 11 pilot sites.
Alaska has significant representation in this initiative, with Dr. Shimizu as a Co-Principal
Investigator (Co-PI) from 蘑菇视频鈥檚 School of Social Work, Wendi Siebold from Juneau-based
Strategic Prevention Solutions as a Co-PI, and Dr. Ingrid Johnson from UAF Department
of Justice serving as an evaluation liaison in Fairbanks at one of the selected pilot
sites. They will be working alongside Co-PIs Dr. Sheila McMahon (University of San
Diego), Dr. Maya Ragavan (University of Pittsburgh), and Dr. Laura Sinko (Temple University).
The research is further supported by key contributors from various institutions (including
Tami Truett Jerue, the Executive Director of Alaska Native Women鈥檚 Resource Center),
local communities, and student research assistants across institutions, including
蘑菇视频 research assistants from NYU Silver.
鈥淩esearch on restorative practice and its ability to place victim needs front and center is promising, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to understand how and why it works and who it is best suited for. So, it鈥檚 an honor and privilege to be a part of this evaluation team to examine just that over the next five years. I鈥檓 also excited that Alaska is represented in this national initiative, especially since relational practices have naturally been a part of Alaska, particularly within Indigenous communities, and because the Alaskan geography and environment require it,鈥� said Dr. Shimizu.
This initiative will provide policymakers, practitioners, and researchers with crucial insights into restorative practices that support victim well-being, offender accountability, and community safety. By partnering on this groundbreaking project, 蘑菇视频鈥檚 School of Social Work reinforces its commitment to advancing social justice through research, education, and service, addressing unique challenges in Alaskan communities and beyond.
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