Safety Planning for Adults

If you believe you are in an abusive relationship, you may want to take precautions to protect yourself and your children. Remember, you are the best person to know your situation. You know when the risk of remaining in the home and/or in the relationship becomes excessive. You know when you need to leave. The following are suggestions that can help increase your safety.

• Put aside emergency money as you can.
• Practice how to get out of your home safely. Identify which doors, windows, or stairwell would be best.
• Have an extra set of keys and a packed bag ready; keep them in an undisclosed but accessible place in order to leave quickly.
• Identify a neighbor you can tell about the violence and ask that they call the police if they hear a disturbance coming from your home.
• Devise a code word to use with your children, family, friends, and neighbors when you need the police
• Teach your children how to dial 911.
• Decide and plan for where you will go if you have to leave home (even if you don't think you will need to).
• Take with you important phone numbers of friends, relatives, doctors, schools, etc., as well as other important items, including:
• Driver's license
• Regularly needed medication
• Credit cards or a list of credit cards you hold yourself or jointly
• Pay stubs
• Checkbooks and information about bank accounts and other assets
• Citizenship documents (such as your passport, green card, etc.)
• Review your safety plan on a regular basis to ensure your safety.
• Remember: Leaving an abusive partner puts you at greater risk for increased violence.

For additional support contact your local domestic violence agency.