Develop a Safety Plan

When a victim is able to leave an abusive environment, it is essential to have a safety plan in place to increase the likelihood of a safe departure. Advanced planning is crucial and should take into account each individual’s unique circumstances. You can work with your advocate to create a safety plan tailored to your specific situation.

What is a safety plan?
A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan that outlines steps you can take to help keep yourself and your children safe from domestic violence.

Safe places: Do they have family or friends with whom they can safely stay?
Legal protection: Would a protective or restraining order be helpful for them?
Contact from advocates: Can an advocate safely contact them at home? What should the advocate do if the abuser answers the phone?
Reaching shelter: Do they know how to safely contact the shelter?
Neighbors and signals: Do they have a neighbor they can contact, or a prearranged signal for assistance, when violence erupts or appears imminent?
Transportation and keys: If they have a car, can they safely hide a set of keys?
Clothing and essentials: Can they pack an extra set of clothes for themselves and any children, and store them—along with an extra set of house and car keys—with a neighbor, friend, or in another safe place?
Emergency money: Can they leave extra cash, a checkbook, or savings information hidden safely for emergency access?
Important documents: Can they collect and safely store originals or copies of important documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, driver’s license, financial records (bank accounts, mortgage or rent receipts, car title, etc.), and medical records for themselves and their children?
Clear escape plan: Do they have a clear plan for where to go and how to get there safely at any time, regardless of when they leave?
Disability-related needs: Do they have a disability that requires assistance or a specialized safety plan?

Every contact with a victim of abuse—whether they are still in the relationship, preparing to leave, or have already left—should include a safety plan tailored to their specific situation, along with a plan for ongoing updates as circumstances change

A fill-in-the-blank printable Safety Plan PDF can be found here