Classen-Ten-Penn NA

Domestic Violence Safety/Escape Plan

Nov 06, 2006

Domestic Violence is a CRIME!
You have the right to feel safe in your own home.
Look for legal assistance or call the police.
Prepare a safety plan for the home.
Prepare a safety plan for work.
WHAT IS A SAFETY PLAN?
A safety plan can help prepare you and reduce the risk of physical harm if you plan to leave your relationship. It helps you to know the options that are available to you and to know what to do in case of an emergency. Having a plan can also help to avoid or reduce the impact of the violence, even if you decide to remain in the home. Some steps you can take are the following:
Memorize or make a list of telephone numbers?—friends, relatives, colleagues, or of a local program that can help.
Prepare a suitcase with clothes, important documents and things you and your children may need. Leave it with someone you trust, a neighbor, a friend, or a relative. If the children are still young, don?’t forget to include toys.
Talk about your safety plan with your children. You should have a signal that only you and your children know. They must understand that once the signal is given, they have to leave the house QUICKLY and that they must call the police or ask a neighbor to call the police.
You can ask a trusted neighbor to call the police when they see or hear the signal. For example: when you turn the lights on and off several times, or when you say a specific word out loud, etc.
Keep copies of important documents that you may need. These should be kept in another safe place, not in your home.

Some important documents that you should keep:
Birth certificates for yourself, your children and your partner/spouse
Social security cards ?— yours and your children?’s
Immigration related documents ?— visa, green card, employment authorization,
naturalization or citizenship certificate, and any other documents
related to your immigration status or attempts to obtain legal residence
Your husband?’s immigration documents, visa card & citizenship papers
Passports ?— yours, your children?’s, or any identification documents you may have
Driver?’s license
Marriage certificate and divorce papers
Bank account number(s), check book
Pay-stubs, income tax returns ?— for you and your husband
Copies of leases, rental agreements, mortgage, deeds, property titles
Any court orders ?— custody, protective orders, visitation, child support
School records
Immunization records for the children
Other objects you should keep:
Loose change to make phone calls, and money to move about.
Medicine and prescriptions
Car and house keys
A list of important phone numbers
(family, friends, school,
domestic violence hotline(s), doctors)
Pictures or jewelry with sentimental value