Intro
Stages of Healthy Gay Relationships
Intro To Domestic ViolenceIntroduction to Gay Male Domestic Violence
Treatment Of Domestic Violence
Treatment Of Domestic Violence
DV Links
References
Intro To Domestic Violence
Cycle of Violence
Assessing for Violence
Safety PlansCauses of Domestic Violence
A Safety Plan is a plan for a victim in the event that he or she decided to leave the abuser quickly. Sometimes the victim may have little warning of an opportunity to do so and need to act quickly, or may decide at once that his or her life is in danger and they need to escape immediately. Safety plans can be elaborate or simple, and include some of the following:
- a specific plan for
how to get out of the home (a window, a door, a fire escape...)
- two packed bags,
each with needed things like
- a set of keys
to the home, car, and workplace
- money
- clothes
- toiletries
- copies of pay
stubs, bills, and other financial documents
- a green card,
visa, or other immigration papers if applicable
- identification
such as a driver's license or passport
- phone numbers
for friends, police, and a shelter or agency that can help
- the victim's
social security card
- a set of
checks or an atm card to get access to money, and a copy of a monthly
checking account statement
- any legal
documents like an order of protection or restraining order
- medical records
- a set of keys
to the home, car, and workplace
- one bag is hidden
somewhere the batterer is unlikely to find, and the other is saved by
a friend in case the victim has to leave with no warning
- if there are
children, two similar bags packed for them, one with a favored toy or
stuffed animal, and one is stored where the batterer is unlikely to
find it, and the other is saved by a friend
- if there are
children, a copy of birth certificates and school records
- any medications or
copies of needed prescriptions
- a neighbor who will
"watch out" for anything suspicious in the home
- a family member or
friend who will respond a given way (for example, by calling the
police) when the victim uses a preset "catch phrase" (for
example, "What ever happened with your aunt's divorce?")
- two places to go in
the event the victim has to leave immediately
- a plan once a week to review the safety plan so it is deeply ingrained in the victim's memory