Victim Services of Kenora & Area

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Victim Services of Kenora and Area

Safety Plan

Safety Planning is a closer look at the full environment in which a victim lives, works and socializes.

Such a plan cannot guarantee personal safety but it can improve the living situation for clients at risk.

Positive steps to reduce risk and raise self-confidence can make a difference to the mobility and comfort of clients in their homes, places of work and neighborhoods.

Safety planning is essentially a plan you set out in advance to avoid any violence for you, or a loved one in the future. It’s a means that will help you (and other loved ones, including children) escape a violent situation, if there is a need to leave swiftly. This may include having items and documents stored in a bag, hidden in a specific area of the house, so you and your loved one can grab it, and go. It can help an individual set out strategies and prepare to end a relationship that is abusive, when they are ready. A safety plan is personalized, meaning not each and every one of them looks the same.

One part of safety planning is to have a backpack, ready to grab in case you need to make a quick exit.

Some things to remember to place in this pack, include:

  • Some clothes for you and your loved ones that are leaving, and hygiene essentials.
  • Important documents, like:
    • Birth certificates
    • Passports
    • Immigration papers
    • Social insurance numbers
    • Health cards
  • Create an extra set of house or car keys, that can be used for a quick exit, and place them in a secure area of the backpack; where you can easily grab them and go.
  • Medications and prescriptions.
  • If you have children, try to pack a special item or toy that may comfort them in the coming days.