An abused woman and her children need to be able to go into ‘auto-pilot’ when a situation becomes dangerous, in order to protect themselves.  Making a safety plan creates steps to increase safety and determines methods to maintain basic needs such as income, housing, healthcare, food, child care, and education for children.

Safety Plans help you to feel safer and will empower you.  Remember that safety planning is an on-going process and will change as threats change and as your life changes. 

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A SAFETY PLAN?

• How to get away if there is an emergency
• How to get help if leaving is not a choice
• Where to go if you leave
• How to be safe at a new place
• How to keep in touch with people who will help you
• How to keep your children safe
• How to protect “what is yours” (personal property, clothes etc.)
• How to stay safe in public and at work
• Anything else that the woman and children need to feel they have a viable Safety plan.

WHAT ITEMS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN MAKING A SAFETY PLAN?

• Extra set of keys for the apartment or house and vehicle
• Small bills and change for taxis and telephone call
• Identification papers-passport, social insurance card, birth certificates, immigration papers, citizenship cared, aboriginal status card
• Driver’s license and registration
• Health cards and children’s immunization records for myself and my children
• Divorce and custody papers
• Restraining orders, peace bonds, any other court orders
• Bank books, check book, credit cards, mortgage or loan papers
• Lease/rental agreement, property deed, business or partnership agreements, rent or mortgage payment receipts
• Address book with phone numbers of your friends, relatives, doctors, schools,
  taxis services, and your local domestic violence organization
• Photograph of partner to help identify him
• A change of clothing for you and your children
• Any evidence you have been collecting to show you have been abused, such as photographs of bruises, etc
• A list of other items I can pick up later

Try to keep it at a trusted friend or neighbor’s house.  Avoid using next-door neighbors, close family members, or mutual friends.  Your abuser might be more likely to find it there.

WHEN LEAVING:

• If you are able to leave secretly, gather all of the stuffs you have been putting
  away during your safety planning and pick up your bag
• If you have to leave suddenly, don’t worry about your stuff, YOUR SAFETY IS
  MORE IMPORTANT

Create a False Trail. 
Call motels, real estate companies, and schools in an area at least 6 hours away from where you are really going.  Ask them questions that requires them calling you back. Give them your old phone number.