Safety Planning
A “safety plan” is a personal plan that can improve your safety and help you be prepared if you are in danger. Safety plan can be used if you:
- Are being stalked,
- Are in abusive relationship,
- Live with somone who is abusing you,
- Are trying to leave an abusive relationship, or
- Have left an abusive relationship.
Safety plans are unique to the individual – what works for you may not work for someone else. You can also change your safety plans if your situation changes. For example, the safety plan you have when you are planning to leave your abusive partner may be different than the one you had when you were living together.
Some of the things that can be part of your safety plan include:
- Having a code word that you can use to let friends know you are in danger.
- Keeping copies of important documents in a place you can easily get to.
- Packing a bag with extra clothes, money, and medication (for you and your children) in case you have to leave in a hurry.
- Having a safe place to go, like a friend, family, or shelter.
- Using a Mobile App for victims of crime.
- Protecting your privacy when using the internet or cell phones, including using the Quick Exit Button on websites.
You can find more information about creating a safety plan on the National Domestic Violence Hotline website.