You should think ahead about ways to be safe if you are in a dangerous or potentially dangerous relationship. Here are some things to consider in designing your own safety plan:
- What adults can you tell about the violence and abuse?
- What people at school can you tell in order to be safe–teachers, principal, counselors, security?
- Would you feel comfortable calling the police on the abuser if you are in danger or need medical care?
- Consider changing your school locker or lock.
- Consider changing your route to/from school.
- Use a buddy system for going to school, classes and after school activities.
- What friends can you tell to help you remain safe?
- If stranded, who could you call for a ride home?
- Keep a journal describing the abuse.
- Get rid of any cell phones the abuser gave you.
- Consider changing any cell phone number, email address, etc. that the abuser knows so that the abuser can no longer contact you.
- Change the passwords for you email, social media, and messaging accounts, as the abuser may have access to them and could be monitoring you.
- Keep spare change, calling cards, number of the local shelter, number of someone who could help you and, if you have one, a restraining order with you at all times.
- Where could you go quickly to get away from an abusive person?
- What other things can you do?
*Safety and Care: Are you sheltering in place with someone who is hurting you? Here are some ideas about how to increase your safety and take care of yourself while you are at home:
- Consider reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, or coworker who could check in with you about your safety and support needs. If you need help identifying support people in your life, take a look at the pod mapping worksheet from the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective.
- Staying Safe During COVID-19 from the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- Mantenerse segurx durante COVID-19 – La Línea Nacional Contra la Violencia Doméstica
- myPlan App – a tool to help with safety decisions if you, or someone you care about, is experiencing abuse in their relationship
- Self Care During Covid-19 Activity Book from the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
*Courtesy of Futures Without Violence