A “safety plan” is a term often used to describe a plan of actions that can help keep you safer from an abuser.
A victim cannot control his or her partner’s abusive behavior, but they can take steps to protect themselves and their children from harm. A safety plan is a personalized and practical plan that helps identify things a victim can do to better protect themselves and their children and to help reduce the risk of being hurt.
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Safety plans can include:
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Obtaining a new cell phone
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Changing a routine
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Changing locks and installing security systems
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Determining ways to keep children safe
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Creating a plan for where to go should an incident occur.
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If a victim is planning to leave, here are some thing to consider:
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Putting aside a bag with money, a change of clothes, identification, and medication.
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Putting aside important documents like birth certificates and social security cards.