Planning for Safety: Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Planning for Safety
 
If you think you are in an abusive relationship, it is important to make a plan to keep yourself and your children safe.  Think of a safety plan like keeping an emergency kit in your car.  Hopefully you won’t need it but if you do, it could save your life.  Here are some things to consider:

• Plan an escape route and practice it.  Know where you can go and who you can call for help.  Keep a list of addresses and phone numbers where you can go in crisis and keep them in a safe place.
• If possible, open a bank account or hide money to establish or increase independence.
• Gather together the following items and hide them with a trusted individual or somewhere accessible outside of the home:

Money/cab fare
Check book
Credit card/ATM card
Order of Protection
Passport
Immigration documents
Work permit
Public Assistance ID
Driver’s license and registration
Social Security card
Your partner’s Social Security number
Medical records
Insurance policies
Police records
Records of violence
Children’ school and immunization records
Lease
Birth certificates
Baby’s things (diapers, formula, medication)
Medications
Clothing Eye glasses
Family pictures
Address book
Important telephone numbers
Mobile phone/coins to use a pay phone