|
|
PLANNING
AHEAD TO STAY SAFE
[Adapted from resource distributed by Fenway
Community Health Centre]
SAFETY
WHILE IN THE RELATIONSHIP
- I
will have important phone numbers available at all times.
- I
can tell _________________ and _____________ about the
violence and ask them to call the police if they hear
suspicious noises coming from my home.
- I
can rehearse an escape route from my home, workplace,
or anywhere my partner might hurt me;
- If
I leave my home, three or four places I can go are: _______________
, ________________, ________________, ______________.
- I
can keep change for phone calls with me at all times
and leave extra money, car keys, clothes and copies of
important papers with _______________ .
- If
I need to leave, I will bring ____________________ (use
checklist below).
- To
build my independence I can: open my own savings account;
take my name off accounts that my partner is misusing;
develop contacts my partner doesn't know; talk regularly
with a support person; and review this safety plan on
________________ (date).
- I
can seek counselling from __________________ , and see
if there is a support group I can join.
SAFETY WHEN YOU AND YOUR PARTNER HAVE SEPARATED
- I
can: change the locks, install heavier doors, a peephole,
a security system, smoke detectors or an outside listening
system.
- I
will inform _______________ and _________________ that
my partner no longer lives with me and ask them to alert
me or the police if s/he is observed near my home, my
children or pets (if applicable).
- I
can tell ____________ at work about my situation and
ask _____________ to screen my calls.
- I
can avoid stores, banks, clubs, bars and _____________
that I went to when I was living with my partner.
- I
can obtain a restraining order from ______________ .
I can keep it on or near me at all times as well as leave
copies with __________________ , ________________ and
_______________.
- If
I feel down and ready to return to a potentially abusive
situation, I can call _____________ for support or attend
workshops and support groups to gain support. I can strengthen
my relationships with other people, so I'll be less tempted
to return to my abusive partner.
- I
can cancel any joint accounts we had with credit card
companies, banks, or utilities and tell representatives
of these institutions that I want to use a secret access
code in future dealings with them (to guard against my
partner misrepresenting me).
- I
can call 911 if I feel I am in immediate danger.
|
