Safety Planning for Children

This safety plan is to be used after the child has disclosed a domestic violence situation. Be careful when helping them create a safety plan: there must be an understanding of the kind of situation they might be in and what danger they may face for attempting to take care of themselves. Be realistic when safety planning and make sure that they CAN do what you both have planned.

1. Ask the child what they usually do when their “_____________” are fighting. (Fill the space in-it may be parents, mom and boyfriend, mom and girlfriend, etc. )

2. Assess the amount of danger in the situation. This will help you decide what will be best for the child. Ask them if they have ever been hit or beaten, what does the batterer do when they fight.

3. Validate their feelings of fear, love, etc.

4. Ask the child if they have anywhere they can go or anyone they can talk to when the abuse is happening. Help them to come up with someone they can talk to-this can be their sister/brother, their grandparents, their teacher, school counselor, etc. or somewhere they can go-this can include their room, their bathroom, a neighbors or outside.

5. Help them figure out when and where it will be safe for them to cry or be sad about what is happening. Tell them you understand (and really try TO understand) that it may be hard to do this when they are scared, but that it is important.

Teach children how to call 911. When there is a fight happening and they are scared, they can call the police. They will need to know what their ADDRESS is, WHO is involved in the fight.
Remind children that they are not to blame for the abuse and that they have the right to be safe!!

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