History

The Center for Restorative Change serves as the umbrella organization for several community initiatives, programs, and services. Once known as the Social Work Community Outreach Service (SWCOS), UMSSW launched SWCOS in 1992 to create and implement innovative models of social work education and service that help strengthen individuals, families, organizations, and communities in Baltimore.

Thirty-one years later, SWCOS underwent a name change to The Center For Restorative Change to reflect its focus on promoting transformative practices in social work. It is driven by an interdisciplinary team of staff and faculty from social work, education, and public health, using the SHARP Framework pioneered by its leader, Dr. Wendy Shaia. At the Center, we value restorative approaches, emphasizing the importance of fostering meaningful and accountable relationships woven through the community and repairing harm when necessary. We aim to create a culture of collaboration and relationship-building to foster restorative change.

Throughout its existence, The Center developed program innovations such as Family Connections Baltimore, a family advocacy initiative, and the Positive School Center, which aim to create positive and restorative school environments. In 2009, the Promise Heights initiative was established to improve educational outcomes and the well-being of families in the Upton/Druid Heights communities of West Baltimore. The B’more for Healthy Babies initiative, started by the city of Baltimore in 2010, focuses on educating families and caregivers through community outreach, training, and media campaigns, leading to a significant decrease in infant mortality rates.