I Do Not Feel Safe
Safety planning is not a command to leave. Choose the pressure you are dealing with now, and build around what is actually possible.
Which statement is closest?
You do not have to select the perfect category. Choose the closest one. Every path gives you a specific next action.
It can reduce the number of decisions in front of you. It is not emergency response, legal advice, therapy, or medical care.
The person can reach me now
Focus on distance, witnesses, exits, communication, and emergency options.
Avoid rooms with weapons or limited exits when possible.
Example: “Stay on the phone with me” or “Call emergency services if I stop responding.”
Only if doing so does not increase risk.
Children, school, and custody
Keep the plan simple enough for children to follow without making them responsible for adult safety.
Give written instructions to the school when legally appropriate.
For example, where to go, who to call, or a code word.
Provide only what the school or caregiver needs.
Your next step
Use the Children and Custody resource page for school, advocacy, and legal pathways.
Open children and custodyPets and animal safety
Pets are often used to control movement and delay leaving. Include them in the plan early.
Photos showing you with the animal may also be useful.
Trusted person, veterinarian, foster program, shelter, or pet-safe housing.
Carrier, leash, food, medication, and contact information.
Your next step
Ask shelters and housing programs directly whether they accept pets or coordinate foster care.
Find housing optionsI may need to leave quickly
Build a minimum plan, not a complete relocation plan.
A public place, trusted home, shelter, hospital, police station, or hotel.
Do not delay safety for replaceable property.
Car, rideshare, transit, trusted person, taxi, or emergency service.
Your next step
Review housing and shelter options before the moment becomes urgent, when possible.
Find housing and shelterI am staying for now
Staying may be the safest or only available option today. Build around harm reduction.
Know where you can move if tension escalates.
Use a code word or check-in plan if useful.
Avoid creating a visible pattern that increases risk.
Your next step
Choose one quiet change that increases options without alerting the unsafe person.
Protect informationDevices or location may be monitored
Do not assume changing a password or turning off sharing is invisible.
A library, advocate, trusted person, or separate account may be safer.
Preserve devices, sessions, forwarding rules, apps, and location settings.
Digital changes can trigger confrontation or loss of access.
Help them understand what you need quickly
Lead with the clearest facts first
Your emotions matter, and you do not need to hide them. When time is limited, beginning with observable facts can help a hotline, hospital, shelter, attorney, school, or agency understand urgency and route you to the right care faster.
- What happened and when
- Whether the person can reach you now
- Any injuries, threats, weapons, stalking, or forced contact
- Children, dependents, pets, or service animals affected
- Disability, communication, medication, mobility, or sensory needs
- Housing, money, transportation, phone, or identification barriers
- Your name and pronouns, if you want them used
- The specific help you are asking for today
A useful plan can include chosen family, LGBTQ+ safety concerns, older adults, disability-related care, immigration concerns, emotional or psychological abuse, financial control, children, dependents, pets, and service animals, and service animals. Name the barriers that affect what is safe and possible for you.