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SAFETY PLANNING

Safety planning is a top priority, whether you choose to remain in the home or leave. Making
a safety plan involves identifying actions to increase your safety and that of your children.

Below are some suggestions that might be helpful to you. Take one action at a time and start with the one that is easiest and safest for you.

Protecting yourself while living with an abuser:

 

Getting Ready to Leave

When you are planning to leave, the following suggestions will help you with the process:

 

Leaving the Abuser

Here are some suggestions for your personal safety when you leave:

 

After Leaving

Here are some actions you should take after you or your partner has left the relationship:

 

Information

The Assaulted Women’s Helpline at 1-866-863-0511 offers a 24-hour telephone and TTY 1-866-863-7868 crisis line for abused women in Ontario. The service is anonymous and confidential and the toll-free number won’t show up on your phone bill. Services can be provided in up to 154 languages.

Helpline staff can support you in doing additional safety planning, finding space for you in a local women’s shelter, or connecting you with other services in your community.

For more information about the services of the Assaulted Women’s Helpline visit: www.awhl.org.

If you are concerned about your immediate safety, call the police.

Most Ontarians feel a personal responsibility for reducing woman abuse…and recognizing it is the first step. Take the warning signs seriously. For further information visit: www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.on.ca

 

Taken from Neighbours, Friends and Families –
Safety Planning For Women Who Are Abused

Learn more about COSTI’s women’s services, and
other programs available at COSTI.