Personalized Safety Plan
			Safety plans have been developed to help people stay safer. Many of our clients have told us that good safety planning has saved their lives. The information below is to help you develop your own personalized safety plan. Suggestions for increasing safety in the relationship: - I will have important phone numbers available to my children and myself. - I can tell ______________________ and ____________________about the violence and ask them to call the police if they hear noises coming from my home. - I can leave my home and I can go to (list of three places) - I can leave extra money, car keys, clothes and copies of documents with ___________ - If I leave, I will bring ____________________________ - To ensure safety and independence, I can: Keep change for phone calls with me at all times; open my own savings account; and rehearse my escape route with a support person. Suggestions for increasing safety when the relationship is over: - I can change the locks, install steel/metal doors, a security system smoke detectors and outside lighting system. - I will inform my ________________ and _______________ that my partner no longer lives with me and ask that they call the police if s/he is observed near my home or my children. - I will tell people who take care of my children the names of those who have permission to pick them up. Also, I can give them a copy of the order of protection. - I can tell _______________ and ________________at work about my situation and ask _________________ to screen my calls and give security a picture of my batterer. - I can avoid stores, banks, and ______________ that I used when living with my battering partner. - I can obtain an order of protection from _______________________ I can keep it with me at all times and give copies to my supervisor at work, children’s school, and _______________. - If I feel down and ready to return to a potentially abusive situation, I can call _____________ for support or attend workshops and support groups to gain support and strengthen my relationships with other people. - If I travel to other states frequently, or plan to move to another state, I will request a "court filed" copy of my protective order from the Court Clerk so that I may register my order in my new state. - I can change (vary) my routine so that s/he does not know where I am. Example—if you always work out at 5PM try a morning or evening; if you always go to a friends on Saturday go out or have them come over. Checklist of items to take when you leave an abusive relationship: Money, checkbook, savings account book Identification: Drivers license, social security card, passport, green card, public assistance ID, work permit, marriage license, etc. Order of Protection (Retraining Order) Birth certificate: yours and your children’s’ Clothing Lease, rental agreement, or house deed Insurance papers House and car keys Medications Jewelry/Saleable objects Address book Divorce papers School records, immunization records Last year’s tax return Toys, children’s comfort items Safety after Leaving - Journal any irregular occurrences, such as hang-ups, or stalking behaviors - Check-in with a friend or family member on a daily basis - If a restraining order is in place be sure to report any and all violations to the police, even if you are uncertain. - If necessary, change your phone number and door and window locks. Safety During an Explosive Incident If an argument seems unavoidable, move to a room or area with easy access to an exit-not a bathroom, kitchen, or anywhere with weapons. Identify quickest way out of the home (i.e. door, window); practice your rote Have a bag packed and ready. Keep it in an area where you can get to it quickly. Have a destination to go to. If you cannot find one, crisis center numbers are available. Have keys, extra keys in an accessible area. Explain the escape plan to children.