PPAL's Police Pocket Guide

Tools to help police and families partner together when youth are in crisis.

This summer, the Juvenile Justice team has been busy finalizing, publicizing, and distributing the Police Pocket Guide, or PPG. The purpose of the PPG is to raise awareness of the prevalence of mental health challenges in youth and show the positive difference an educated first responder can make in diverting youth from jails or hospitals. The Police Pocket Guide was developed to provide law enforcement officers, legal professionals, and other first responders with specific tools, techniques, and resources on responding to and working with youth with mental health needs and their families. It includes information on various mental health disorders and medications, specific tips on working with these youth, and national and state resources.

PPAL has mailed the guide to every police department in the state - 354 departments to be exact! In addition to the PPG, each packet includes an intro letter, an infographic, and kids’ mental health data. PPAL will do a free training on the PPG for any police department that asks - make sure your local police department contacts us!