Safety Planning

Abusers are not predictable and every case of domestic violence is different. Planning ahead may help keep you and your children stay safe.

Safety planning is very important. A safety plan should be made with the help of a domestic violence counselor or advocate. A counselor with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence can be reached 24 hours a day at 800-500-1119.

Forming a Safety Plan

Know Where You Can Go

Decide where you can go for help. Tell someone what is happening and have phone numbers of friends, family and a domestic abuse shelter with you at all times. 

Make A Getaway Bag

Make a getaway bag in case you need to leave quickly. Your getaway bag should include things for you and your children that you must have or that would be hard to replace, such as:

  • Address Book and Phone Numbers
  • Bank Cards and Credit Cards
  • Birth Certificates
  • Car Registration
  • Changes of Clothes
  • Checkbook
  • Copies of Bills
  • Divorce, Custody, and Injunction Papers
  • Driver’s License or Other Identification
  • Extra Keys
  • Insurance Papers
  • Medications and Copies of Prescriptions
  • Passports or Green Cards or Work Permits
  • Picture of Your Abuser and Your Children
  • Pictures or Keepsakes
  • School and Medical Records
  • Social Security Cards

If you have an injunction for protection or other type of restraining order, carry it with you at all times.

Prepare Your Children

Teach your children how to call 911, how to escape the house during violence, safe places to go such as a neighbor’s or friend’s house, and that it is not their job to protect you.