Why PPAL created the Police Pocket Guide

At PPAL, we work to create a better world for our children, support our communities, and focus on the importance of families. The effect of racism and racial trauma on our children’s mental health is real. We know that the disparity in getting care for children in communities of color shows up every day.

Now more than ever, we continue to pursue meaningful and enduring change to overcome acts that would threaten to corrode the fibers of our community. As we work to build, protect, and support our communities, there’s no better tool than our collective power. We stand ready to listen and work with individuals and organizations to create a more just world.

PPAL created this guide with assistance from Wayside Youth and Family Support Network in 2001. A grant from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health paid for development and printing. The 2008 revision and printing were funded by grants from the Boston Foundation and the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership. The most recent version was funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.

Big thanks go to project consultant Bekah Sager, who has been gathering behind-the-scenes info, including a list of Massachusetts’ School Resource Officers (SROs), principals, and school districts.