Safety Plan

The Guide to Staying Safe

What is a safety plan?

A safety plan is a guide that helps lower your risk of being hurt by your abuser. It includes specific information that will help keep you safe. A good safety plan helps you think through lifestyle changes that will help keep you as safe as possible at school, at home and other places that you go on a daily basis.

Everyone deserves a relationship that is healthy, safe and supportive. If you are in a relationship that is hurting you, it is important for you to know that the abuse is not your fault. It is also important for you to start thinking of ways to keep yourself safe from the abuse, whether you decide to end the relationship or not. While you can’t control your partner’s abusive behavior, you can take action to keep yourself as safe as possible.

Using this guide

Take some time to go through each section of this guide. You can complete the workbook on your own, or you can work through it with a friend or an adult you trust. Some important things to think about are:

  • In order for this safety plan to work for you, you’ll need to fill in personalized answers, so you can use the information when you most need it.
  • Once you complete your safety plan, be sure to keep it in an accessible but secure location. You might also consider giving a copy of your safety plan to someone that you trust.

Staying Safe at School

The safest way for me to get to and from school is:

If I need to leave school in an emergency, the safest way for me to get home is:

I can make sure that a friend will walk with me to and from classes. I will ask:

I will eat lunch and spend free periods in an area where there are school staff or faculty near by. These are some areas at school where I feel safe:

I could talk to the following people about rearranging my schedule in order to avoid my abuser or if I need help staying safe at school:

  • School guidance counselor
  • Coach
  • Principal
  • Assistant Principal
  • School security
  • Other
  • Teacher(s)

Staying Safe at Home

I can tell this family member about what is going on in my relationship:

There may be times when no one else is home. During those times, I can have people stay with me. I will ask:

The safest way for me to leave my house in an emergency is:

If I have to leave in an emergency, I should try to go to a place that is public, safe and unknown by my abuser. I could go here: _________ and/or here _________.

I will use a code word so I can alert my family, friends, and neighbors to call for help without my abuser knowing about it. My code word is:

If I live with my abuser, I will have a bag ready with these important items in case I need to leave quickly:

  • Cell phone & charger
  • Spare money
  • Keys
  • Driver’s license/ID
  • Copy of restraining order
  • Birth certificate, SS card, other important documents
  • Change of clothes
  • Medications
  • Special photos or other valuable items
  • If I have children, the same list for them.

Staying Safe Emotionally

My abuser often tries to make me feel bad about myself by saying or doing this:

When he/she does this, I will think of these things I like about myself:

I will do things I enjoy, like:

I will join clubs or organizations that interest me, like:

If I feel down, depressed or scared, I can call the following friends or family members:
Name:
Phone #:

During an emergency, I can call the following friends or family members:

Getting Help in Your Community:

For emergencies: 911
Safe Harbor: 1.800.291.2139

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