School connectedness is when students feel that adults and peers at their school care about them as individuals. School connectedness plays an important role in reducing the students likelihood to engage in risky behaviors such as using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. This relationship was seen in an analysis of local California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) data. Students in San Mateo County schools that report low levels of school connectedness reported much higher levels of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Restorative Justice Practices (RJP) is one strategy schools can use to improve school climate and increase school connectedness. Check out our recently published  Restorative Justice Practices Planning Toolkit to learn more about how to successfully implement RJP at your school site.