Safety Plan
If there is a risk that you could experience violence or abuse, having a safety plan is a way to increase your own and your childrens’ safety. You do not have control over the abuser’s violence, nor can you always avoid violent incident; however you can increase your safety. Do safety planning even if you don’t think the violence will continue.
Plan Ahead
- Tell someone you trust about the abuse.
- Ask neighbor to call the police if they hear fighting or screaming from your home.
- Create an emergency escape plan.
- Decide where you will go if you have to leave(shelter, friends, family).
- A taxi will take you to the nearest shelter free of charge.
- Always take your children with you.
- Teach your children where to go for help.
- Develop a code word with your children.
- Teach your children how to call 911.
- Call a crisis line to create a personal plan for you and your children.
- Hide your cell phone, keys and extra money where you can access them quickly.
- Pack a bag with clothing, medications, important documents for you and your children and leave it at a friend’s or family member’s home.
- Develop a list of important phone numbers.
- Call your local shelter to make arrangements for your pets.
- Open a bank account in your own name but arrange for bank statement to be mailed to a safe address.
During a violent incident:
- Position yourself to get out quickly or to be near a phone.
- Move to a space where the risk is lowest. Stay away from the kitchen, bathroom or garage.
- Call 911 during a violent incident and do not hang up the phone so the police can locate you.
- When there is a violent incident make as much noise as you can, yell FIRE if necessary.
After you have separated:
- Call a local shelter for help with making your new home safer.
- Have an unlisted telephone number.
- Change the locks to your home.
- Change your routine if possible ie where and when you shop, go for coffee, complete errands and banking.
- Notify your place of employment, children’s school and daycare of your situation.
- Be alert to your surroundings when at work, driving and when arriving at or leaving your home.
- Keep a copy of terms and conditions for the person who abused you with you at all times.
- Notify police immediately if any of the terms have been broken.
Important Documents
Take a photocopy of the following items and store in a safe place. Hide the originals in another place, if you can.
- Passports, birth certificates, immigration papers, for all family members
- School and vaccination records
- Driver’s licence and registration
- Medications, prescriptions, medical records for all family members
- Social Assistance/ODSP identification
- Work permits
- Divorce papers, custody documentation, court orders, restraining orders, marriage certificate
- Lease/rental agreement, house deed, mortgage payment book
- Bank books
- Insurance papers (health, disability, life, property)
- Address/telephone book
- Picture of spouse/partner
- Health cards for yourself and family members
- All cards you normally use e.g. credit cards, bank cards, phone, social insurance
- Government of Ontario Senior’s Card
- Native Person Status Card or documentation
- Pension, RRSP, RRIF information
- Tax returns
- Copies of wills, trust agreements, power of attorney
- Pay stubs
If you have any questions or would like help setting up your own safety plan please call in Kitchener (519) 742-5894, in Cambridge(519) 653-2422, or toll-free 1 (800) 410-4482.
