GUIDE TO SAFETY PLANNING

Safety Planning is a "harm reduction" strategy that empowers
victims to consider their safety whether or not they are still in the
abusive relationship, or are thinking about leaving. This enables
a victim to think about possibilities for increasing safety on a
daily basis. Each person should develop a safety plan that is
tailored to an individual's situation. Use the following information
as a guide.

Safety At Home

• Know the windows and doors in the home. Find out which windows open easily and which windows stick. Also, know which is located in a place that would allow access to outside the home.
• Plan an escape route. Do this just as one would think about a fire drill. Even if there are no immediate plans to leave, it helps to know the plan should it become necessary in an emergency.
• Think about where to go and who would help.
• Identify a support network. Who can be trusted to help in carrying out the plan? It is helpful to have someone to check-in with on a regular basis.
• Develop a code word to use with the support person. A code word could help the support person know when assistance is needed from the police.
• As soon as the children are old enough, they should be taught to dial 911. Make sure 911 is on speed dial with a sticker.
• Packing an overnight bag and leaving it at a friends house or in a place where the batterer will not find it is an option if it is not safe to return home. Again, safety is the first priority.

Safety During A Violent Incident

• Be aware of immediate surroundings. The kitchen is a room that has many weapons that are easily accessible. Other rooms to avoid are the bathroom (with only one likely exit and small windows) and the bedroom (or rooms where weapons might be kept).
• Remember the planned escape route.
• If there has been a code developed with someone and there is time to call that person, make them aware that assistance is needed.
• Have the children call 911 and/or remind them of the escape drill.

Planning To Leave

• Financial Issues
• Think about where money can be kept so that the batterer will not be aware of it.
• Plan around the dates when you receive any monthly checks in the mail. Make arrangements to have the checks sent to a different address or P.O. Box.
• If you have a joint bank account, think of ways to access that money so that it does not arouse suspicion (i.e. withdrawing large amounts of money at once).
• It is possible that there will not be any money available at any time. Investigate what options are available in getting to safety without needing to pay.
• Transportation Issues
• If you plan to use a car, make sure to keep an extra set of keys hidden.
• Decide if the car is the best alternative or whether it will be easy to track down. If you plan to use public transportation, plan how to get to there, identify what obstacles might present themselves, such as coordinating children's schedules, clothes, etc.
• Documents and Other Materials
• Identify important documents to have, such as: social security cards, birth certificates, medical records, legal documents, immigration documents, etc.
• Decide which are crucial documents and which can be replaced later.
• The Escape Route
• Know your escape route. Practice using it.
• Think about options for safe places to go. Think about who can be trusted to know and/or help in the escape process.
• Plan a way to get there and alternative ways to get there.

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