Steps for Safety Planning with Children when
violence takes place at home

Identify a person or people who can help:

• Focus on what the child thinks she could do to keep herself safe
• Give her time to come up with her own solutions
• Ask her who she thinks could help her, and whether she would feel comfortable asking that person

Children should know that…

• The safety plan may not always work.
• It’s not their fault if it fails.

Help the child identify warning signs

Some examples:

• Mom and dad are arguing
• Dad is raising his voice
• Dad and/or mom is drunk/high
• Dad is namecalling/threatening
• Dad is slamming doors, stomping around

What kids can do to stay safe

• Go to their room
• Leave the house and go somewhere safe: a neighbor’s house, a relative’s house, or outside
• Stay out of the way
• Dial 911 if there is a phone where their dad can’t hear them
• Don’t ever try to physically stop the violence