Policing Alternatives and Diversion

Partnership and community engagement: pad coordinates with housing partners, businesses, criminal justice agencies, public and private social service agencies, and neighborhood residents to address issues of community concern and connect referred individuals to housing, behavioral health services, employment, and other stabilizing supports. Pad's team also provides ongoing engagement and training to further awareness and understanding of harm reduction, housing first, and social justice in order to reduce the use of punishment to address public health and survival issues.

Diversion and harm reduction services: pad's harm reduction team responds to law enforcement assisted Diversion requests, community referrals, and conducts street outreach and problem solving with community stakeholders to promote alternative responses and the decriminalization of survival activities. Pad provides an immediate alternative to arrest for those individuals already detained by law enforcement. Pad accepts Diversion referrals from Atlanta police department and marta police officers who have probable cause to arrest an individual and identify that there is a need related to substance use, mental health, or extreme proverty.

Care navigation services: pad provides direct services to diverted individuals. Our services are grounded in the principles of harm reduction and housing first. The focus of our direct services is to reduce the activities that lead to police contact and address quality of life concerns in a way that honors the dignity and self-determination of the participant. Referred individuals are offered emergency shelter, transportation, and food assistance. Referred individuals are supported with care navigation, and connected to service providers for identification documents,recovery support, employement, and other services.