Chapter 15: Miami-Dade Economic Advisory Trust (MDEAT) Youth Development Division: Teen Court and COVID-19

Youth in Miami-Dade County have begun to voice their discontent with the COVID-19 experience. They are understanding that the stay-at-home orders are about more than just social distancing, becoming the new normal. In this chapter, Teen Court participants who have been referred for mental health services share their disgruntlement and discuss how they must now genuinely sit with their emotions and identify root causes. These Teen Court participants are largely minority youth from low socioeconomic conditions. In Miami-Dade County, this includes youth from Miami Gardens, North Miami, Little Haiti, East Cutler Bay, Florida City, and Liberty City. These are areas categorized by dramatic disparities in education, unemployment, market strength and stability, business composition, and more when compared to more affluent areas of the county.