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Safety planning is an important intervention
for the healthcare provider. The Safety Plan included in the
Guidelines appears in Appendix
D of this course.
Creating a Safety
Plan
Those who are at risk of violence need to
have a plan to respond to the abuse in a safe manner, often
called a Safety Plan. The plan should list steps to take if
a partner becomes violent or abusive. It should also include
teaching children how to call 9-1-1 for help. Women who experience
dating violence or other forms of abuse also need a safety
plan (SAMHSA, 2003).
Safety During a
Violent Incident
You don't have control over your partner's
violent actions. However, you can control how you prepare
for your safety and the safety of your children (SAMHSA, 2003).
- If you think an argument may become violent, stay
out of rooms that may contain possible weapons. This
would include the kitchen, bathroom, and garage. Try
to go to a room with an exit.
- Practice getting out safely. Which doors, windows,
stairwells, and elevators will you use?
- Keep your purse and car keys close by and always
keep an extra car key hidden in a safe place.
- You may need to tell a neighbor to call the police
if they hear suspicious noise coming from your home.
This may be difficult for you to reveal, but it is
a very important step. Have a code word that will
alert them to call the police. Make sure your children
also know the code word and how to call 9-1-1.
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Safety
If You Are Planning To Leave
Some women decide that the best safety plan is to leave.
Because the abuser often becomes more violent when he suspects
his partner is leaving (it represents a loss of control),
it is important to prepare carefully (SAMHSA, 2003).
- Leave money, an extra set of keys, an extra set
of clothes, and copies of important papers (see list
below) with someone you trust at least several days
before you plan to leave.
- If you don't already have one, open a bank account
in your name only.
- Determine who might be able to loan you money or
give you a place to stay.
- Keep change for phone calls since credit cards
or calling cards will show up on phone bills.
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Checklist for Leaving an Abuser
The National Women's Health Information Center (USDHHS, 2005;
SAMHSA, 2003) provides the following list of helpful items
to get together when planning on leaving an abusive situation.
Keep these items in a safe place until ready to leave, or
if sudden departure is needed. If there are children in the
home, take them. And take the pets too, if possible.
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Figure 3.
What to Bring With You When You Leave an Abuser
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| Identification for yourself
and your children |
- birth certificates
- social security cards (or numbers written on paper
if you can't find the cards)
- driver's license
- photo identification or passports
- welfare identification/documents
- immigration documents,green card, visa
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| Important personal papers |
- marriage certificate
- divorce papers
- custody orders
- legal protection or restraining orders
- Insurance forms and information
- health insurance papers and medical cards
- medical records for all family members including
children's immunization records
- children's school records
- work permits
- immigration papers
- rental agreement/lease or house deed
- car title, registration, and insurance information
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| Funds |
- cash
- credit cards
- ATM card
- checkbook and bankbook (with deposit slips)
- investment papers/records and account numbers
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| Keys |
- house
- car
- safety deposit box or post office box
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| A way to communicate |
- phone calling card
- cell phone
- address book
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| Medications |
- at least 1 month's supply for all medicines you
and your children are taking, as well as a copy of
the prescriptions
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| A way to get by |
- jewelry or small objects you can sell, if you run
out of money or stop having access to your accounts
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| Things to help you cope |
- pictures
- keepsakes
- children's small toys or books
- clothing
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Continue on to
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