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.