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Safety Planning

Victims of domestic violence need to plan and know their options if they are not safe in their home.

 

Here are some tips on escaping a violent situation:

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  • Call the local police department for immediate assistance. They can stop the violent incident and help you make arrangements for a safe place to go or for medical treatment.

  • Call DVSC’s 24 hour Hotline at 570-823-7312 or 1-800-424-5600. Women and their children can stay at DVSC’s Emergency Shelter where they will be safe and Counselor/Advocates can help with information and referrals for financial assistance, housing and other agencies and community resources.

  • File for a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order. Even if you do not go to shelter, Counselor/Advocates can help you with the process.

  • Call a family member, friend or someone who cares about you to get transportation to a safe place to stay. Now is not a good time to “do it on your own.”

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Victims of domestic violence should not wait until they are in a violent situation to have a safety plan in place. Having a safety plan could one day be the difference between life and death.

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Here are some suggestions for a safety plan:

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  • Know the cues of possible violence. This includes knowing what situations tend to lead to abuse and knowing where the abuse most often occurs.

  • Know a quick escape route. Know what doors, windows, stairwells or fire escapes you would use to avoid a violent incident.

  • Designate a neighbor or friend to call the police if they hear suspicious noises coming from your home.

  • Designate a neighbor or friend that you can call and give them a special code word which tells them you are in danger.

  • Teach your children to use the phone to call police if there is an incident.

  • If you're not feeling safe, try to avoid the bathroom and kitchen or any room without an easy exit.

  • If you can, leave money, an extra set of keys, copies of important documents, extra medicines, and clothes with someone you trust so that you can leave quickly, if necessary.

  • Keep the shelter or hotline phone number close at hand and/or call 911 for emergency transportation or assistance.

  • Rely on your instinct. You can trust yourself to do whatever is necessary to protect yourself and your children.

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