Restorative Justice as a Pedagogical Intervention Embedded in Social Work Education, to Combat the Post Removal Child Welfare Experience

Child welfare education is often shaped by a rescue narrative that prioritizes removal while giving limited attention to the experiences of youth once in care. Drawing on restorative justice theory, this theoretical exploration paper examines how systemic and historical forces within child welfare contribute to ongoing harm, particularly for youth experiencing dual marginalization based on race, gender identity, disability, and sexual orientation. Through a theoretical and literature-based analysis, restorative justice is positioned as a framework for disrupting savior-oriented approaches and fostering accountability, relational repair, and systemic awareness. The paper argues that integrating restorative justice into social work education offers a pathway to prepare future practitioners for more ethical, reflective, and justice-oriented child welfare practices.