Domestic Violence Group: Transforming Our Youth (TOY) Program

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

Until recently, Miami-Dade County’s Juvenile Justice Judicial system struggled with the ongoing challenges associated with adequately addressing the needs of youth arrested for domestic violence. The Transforming our Youth Program (TOY) was created in response to this ongoing situation. TOY is a collaborative partnership between the Miami-Dade Juvenile Services Department (JSD), and Community Action and Human Services Department’s Coordinated Victim’s Assistance Center (CVAC). The program educates youth charged with domestic violence on the dynamics of domestic violence and its destructive nature with the ultimate goal of transforming their understanding of its consequences and repercussions. The program's main objective is to engage the participating youth in community activities and projects that strengthen their ability to resolve their issues in a nonviolent manner. Program services include: case management, victim/offender mediation, restitution coordination, workshops, community work service, and referrals to substance abuse counseling, and family and individual counseling. Miami-Dade County families that have been affected by juvenile domestic violence are now being adequately served through this collaborative partnership.