SAFETY DURING A VIOLENT INCIDENT If weapons are in the home, I can infonn law enforcement, adult protective services or my Service Facilitator/IL Coordinator. If I think that my abuser is going to become violent, I can move to a space that is lowest risk, such as___ I can stay out of the bathroom or kitchen or any room that has weapons or hard surfacesor that doesn't have an accessible exit. I can keep my service animal out of room during the incident. If my PCA I caregiver is the one hu rting me, I will not have them do personal tasks (bathing, toileti ng. dressi ng, transferring, etc.) when s/he is agitated or drinking. I'm at greater risk of physical injury during these times. I can practice how to get out of the home safely by visualizing the accessible escape route by identifyi ng the best doors, elevator or stairwell to use. If I'm unable to leave during the incident I'll try to position myself where shouting may attract attention (keep windows partially open, or move near to a wall attached to another apartment or building). My safest escape route is____ If it is not safe to stay at home, I can go to _____. A safe person or I can also contact the accessible YWCA Battered Women's Shelter at 1-888-872-9259. The shelter can help find me PCA/caregivers services if for some reason my regular PCA can't come to the shelter with me. I can keep my car keys, purse, wallet, spare medication, medical supplies, adaptive equipment, money and an extra set of clothing in one place in case I need to leave quickly. I can seek the help of a safe person if I need assistance collecting the items. I will leave these items____ I can tell ___ and ___ about the violence and ask them to call the police if they hear suspicious noises coming from my home or if they haven't seen or heard from me for a predetermined amount of time. I can devise a secret code word with my children and I or my friends if I need them to call for help. The code word I can use is I can teach my children how to use the phone to contact the police and fire department. I will use my best judgment. If the situation is very serious, I will give the person hurting me what she/he wants to calm him/her down. I will protect myself until I and my children and/or pets are out of danger. SAFETY WHEN PREPARING TO LEAVE I can pack or have a safe person help me pack medications, prescriptions, glasses, hearing aids, or other assistive devices that I need. I can leave these items and money, extra keys copies of important documents (birth certificate, marriage license, Social Security award letter, emergency contacts, etc.) with ____. I can also plan on how to take my service animal with me. I can go somewhere safe and accessible (preferably at a location that my abuser does not know about). A safe person or I can contact the accessible YWCA Battered Women's Shelter at 1-888-872-9259.The shelter can help me find PCA/caregivers that can come to the shelter with me. Another safe place I can stay is____. I can make sure that my vehicle and any adaptations are in working order and will keep the gas tank at lea&t half full. If I use ACCESS (Cincinnati's Paralransit System) which is a fixed route system I will contact the ACCESS/Metro's Direct ADA/Accessibility Services or the Dispatch Center of Access to change destinations or to alternate the route. I will do this at least a half an hour prior to the originally scheduled pick-up time. I can open a post office box where Ican receive mail unknown to the abuser. I can ask a safe person or PCA/caregiver to assist in getting items from the post office box if necessary. I can open a savings account to increase my independence if my abuser is not involved with my finances.I can have my checks including Social Security directly deposited into my new account. If my abuser has access to my finances, I will wait until after I have left to open new account I can review my safety plan as often as possible with a domestic violence or sexual assault advocate, my service facilitator/IL program coordinator in order to plan the safest way to leave. Women Helping Women's crisis line is 513-381-5610 and the YWCA Battered Women's Shelter is 1-888-872-9259. I can tell friends and family ways they can help me leave safely. I can tell____. I can rehearse my escape plan and, as appropriate, practice it with my chiIdren. I need to remember that leaving can be the most dangerous time. I can plan carefully. Safety in my home If my abuser does not live with me, I can take steps to ensure my safety and my children's safety in the home. Possible safety measures that my SF/IL coordinator or domestic violence advocate may help me with include: Changing the locks on the doors and windows. Replacing wooden doors with steel or metal doors. I installing security systems, including additional locks, window bars, poles to wedge against doors, an electronic alarm system, etc. Installing smoke detectors and purchasing fire extinguishers for each floor of my home. Installing an outside motion-sensitive lighting system that activates when a person approaches my home. I can inform___ and ____that my abuser no longer resides with me and they can call the poli ce If the abuser Is observed near my home. I can teach my children to go ___ or call___if the abuser comes to the house. I can inform____and ____ about who has permission to pick up my children from school, daycare and/or after-school care once custody has been established. I have the right to be safe. Abuse is not my fault. I am not alone. There is help. SAFETY WITH TEMPORARY PROTECTION ORDERS AND CIVIL PROTECTION ORDERS When criminal assault or domestic violence charges are filed against your abuser, let the police know that you want a temporary protection order (TPO). You can also get a civil protection order (CPO) from Domestic Relations Court at 800 Broadway in downtown Cincinnati. For more information on obtaining a protection and/or restraining order contact or have someone contact Women Helping Women at 513-381-5610. I can keep a copy of my CPO/TPO ____ in my purse,wallet, scooter pack,etc., so that I have a copy of it at all times. I can make copies of my CPO/TPO and keep them ______(ex: daycare, work,service organization, police department or leisure program). I can also Include a picture of my abuser with the protection order. If my abuser violates the CPO/TPO, I can call my local pol ice department and report violation. I can keep myself safe by ____ if the police do not respond right away. I can inform ___ and ____ (friends,family,neighbors) that I have a CPO/TPO in effect. If the police are not responsive to any TPO/CPO violations, I can call my Service Facilitator/IL Coordinator or my domestic violence advocate or another safe person to ask for assistance. I need to remember that a TPO or CPO is not a guarantee of Safety I still need to exercise caution. SAFETY ON THE JOB AND IN PUBLIC SETTINGS I can inform and___about my situation. I can provide a picture of the abuser too. I can use voice mail, the receptionist, co-worker or ___ to help screen my telephone calls at work. I can park my car in a visible, well-lighted area at___and I can ask___to escort me to my car. I can have someone escort me to my car, bus, taxi or other transportation. I can use a variety of routes to go home. I can contact ____to let them know when I arrive at my destination so they can check on my safe arrival. If I use ACCESS which is Cincinnati's Para-transit fixed route system; I will contact the ACOSS/Metro's Direct ADA/Accessibility Services or the Dispatch Center of Access to change destinations or to alternate the route. I will do this at least a half an hour prior to the originally scheduled pick-up time. If problems occur while I am driving home, I can use my cell phone to call for help, making note of my exact location and situation. If I don't have a phone, I can drive to a well-lit public area or preferably a police department. If I use public transportation, I can make the driver aware of any threatening situation. Others places that I may need to plan for safety are_____. I have the right to be safe. Abuse is not my fault. I am not alone. There is help. SAFETY AND MY EMOTIONAL HEALTH To conserve my emotional energy and resources, and to avoid hard emotional times, I can do some of the following:_______ I will have good thoughts about myself and tell ___ how they can help me. I will use positive self-talk and be assertive with others. I can talk to____freely and openly about the support I need. A safe person or I can contact a domestic violence program to p Ian physically and attitudinally accessible support programs. I can _____ (journal, read, talk with someone, etc.) and ____ to help me feel stronger. I can take care of my physical needs and ask for assistance when needed. I can ask for help. If I have to communicate with my abuser in person or over the phone, the safest way to do That is ____- If I am thinking about staying or going back to the relationship, I can talk with ___ about this decision. I have the right to be safe. Abuse is not my fault. I am not alone. There is help. This project is supported by Grant No. 2007-FW-AX-K008 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, “Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program”, U. S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors (Project CARE) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence against Women.