Developing a Safety Plan - Before You Leave

To help ensure your safety and the safety of your children, it is critical that you develop a comprehensive plan prior to leaving an abusive situation. The following are steps to consider.

• Make arrangements that, in the event of an emergency, you and your children can stay with someone you trust that your partner doesn't know.
• Ask your neighbors to call 911 if they hear suspicious noises coming from your home.
• Know important telephone numbers (police, friends, hotline, shelter)
• If you sense a violent episode is imminent, and it is safe to do so, disable or hide weapons.
• Teach your children to call 911.
• Practice getting yourself and your children out of your home safely. Pre-identify which doors, windows, elevator or stairwell would work best. Make a plan for what to do if you and your children become separated.
• Put together an Escape Kit and place it somewhere safe but accessible, NOT in your home.
• Advise your employer/coworkers never to speak with your abuser without first checking with you and never to give information about you to anyone. Arrange to have someone screen your calls.
• Devise a code word to use with your children, family, friends, neighbors, your children's school officials, your employer, etc. when you need the police.
• Open a savings account in your name only at a bank different from where you family's other account(s) are.
• Do not leave behind notes, doodles with shelter/bus/airline information

Call the Haven Hills crisis line for more information (818) 887-6589. Please also visit the Developing a Safety Plan-After You Leave section for further information.