CHILD SAFETY PLAN

Children who bear the brunt of violence or witness violence directed at someone they love are profoundly traumatized. They need comfort and support. They also need to be taught ways to protect themselves.|

Here are steps you can take to prepare a Child Safety Plan for and with each of your children:

Have your child pick a safe room/place in the house, preferably with a lock on the door and a phone. The first step of any plan is for the children to get out of the room where the abuse is occurring.

Stress the importance of the child staying safe, and remind him or her that it’s not a child’s responsibility to protect Mom.

Teach your children not to use a phone that is in view of the abuser because this puts them at risk. Children should use a neighbour’s phone or pay phone if they are unable to use a phone at home. If you have a cell phone, teach your children how to use it.

Teach children how to contact police at 911.

Ensure that children know their full name and address. (Rural children need to know their Concession and Lot numbers.)

Rehearse what your children will say when they call for help. For example, after calling 911, your child will hear the operator answer:
"Police, Fire, Ambulance."
Your child says: “Police.”
Then your child says:
“My name is ______________.
I am ____years old.
I need help. Send the police.
Someone is hurting my mom.
The address here is _______________.
The phone number here is ______________.”

If children call 911 from the address where the crisis is taking place, they should leave the phone off the hook after they’re done talking. Otherwise, if they hang up, police might call the number back, which could create a dangerous situation for yourself and your children.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THIING CHILDREN CAN DO
Children often try to stop the abuse by distracting the abuser or directly interfering in the abusive episode. Yet the most important thing children can do for their mothers and families is to get away from the area of violence. It’s important to tell children that the best and most important thing for them to do is to keep themselves safe.

Teach your children about neighbourhood Block Parents and how to use them.

Pick a safe place out of the home to meet your children once the danger is past, so you can easily find each other.

Teach your children the safest route to the planned place of safety for them.
Click on SAFER HOME for related tips.