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Safety Planning for Children

Stay out of the fight

  • You may want to get in the middle of the fight to protect and help your parent, but this is not a safe thing for you to do.
  • Stay out of the room where the fighting is happening

Avoid getting trapped in a small room or closet or the kitchen

  • You may feel like hiding, but if you go into a corner or closet, it may be hard to get out again safely.
  • Don’t get trapped in the kitchen where there are objects that can be used as weapons.

Find a phone in a safe place. Call 911 for help and stay on the phone.

  • Use a phone out of reach or out of sight of the abuser.
  • If you can’t reach a shone safely in your own house, go to a neighbor, relative, or friend you trust and ask if you can use the phone.
  • Call 911, or your local police emergency number, and stay on the phone until someone answers (and until help arrives if you can).
  • Tell the person on the phone what is happening in your home and ask for immediate help.
  • Give your address to the person on the phone.

Escape to a safe place. Find a relative or neighbor and ask for their help.

  • Think about which grownups you would feel safe talking to.
  • Don’t give up if the first person you go to won’t help. Try another person. Keep trying until you find someone to help you.

Always remember… The violence is not your fault!

Adopted from: It’s Not O.K.: Let’s Talk About Domestic Violence

American Bar Association, Commission on Domestic Violence, 1996

For more information call 800.838.8238 or email Hotline@vsdvalliance.org. E-mail is not a secure form of communication. To ensure confidentiality please call the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.838.8238 (V/TTY).