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A Survivor's Checklist

Identification:

  • Driver License

  • Birth Certificate (Yours and your children's)

  • Social Security Cards

Financial:

  • Money (both cash, some change and any credit cards in your name)

  • Checking and saving account information

  • Loan/investment information

Legal Papers:

  • Order of Protection

  • House deed, or lease/rental agreement

  • Car title, registration and insurance

  • Health/life insurance information

  • medical records for you and your children

  • School records

  • Work Permit/permanent resident card/Visa/ITIN number/Passport/matricula consular

  • Divorce and custody papers

  • Marriage license

  • Tax return from previous year

Other Items:

  • Medications, glasses and hearing aids

  • Additional house and car keys

  • Safety deposit box key

  • Valuable jewelry

  • Address book

  • Change of clothes for you and your children

  • Current pictures of you, your children, and your abuser

  • Vaccination/immunization information

  • Camera (disposable or other)

  • Appointment book/calendar

Safety During an Explosive Incident

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  • Decide and plan where you will go if you have to leave home (even if you don't think you will need to).

  • Practice how to get out of your home safely. Identify which doors, windows, elevator or stairwell would be best.

  • Have a packed bag ready and keep it at a friends or relative's home in order to leave quickly.

  • Identify one or more neighbors you can tell about the violence and ask them to call police if they hear a disturbance coming from your home.

  • Chooses a code word to use with your children, family, friends, and neighbors when you need the police.

  • If you believe an argument/incident is going to occur, try to move to a room or area where you have access to an exit. Stay away from any weapons, the bathroom, the kitchen, bedroom or other rooms without an outside door or window.

  • Use your own instincts and judgement. If the situation is very dangerous, do whatever is necessary to be safe. This may mean giving the abuser what they want to calm them down.

  • If necessary, call for help. Dial "0" or "911".

Safety When Preparing to Leave

  • Open a savings account and/or credit card in your own name to start establishing or increasing your independence. Think of other ways in which you can increase your independence.

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

  • Determine who would be able to let you stay with them or assist you financially.

  • Keep the shelter hotline number close at hand

  • Review your safety plan as often as passible in order to plan the safest way to leave your batterer. Remember leaving your batterer is a very dangerous time!

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  • Keep your order of protection on you at all times. Give a copy to a trusted neighbor, family member, or clergy person. Keep a copy in the glove compartment of your car.

  • Call the police if your batterer violates the Order of Protection

  • Think of other ways to stay safe until law enforcement arrives

  • Inform family, friends, neighbors, or your physician that you have an Order of Protection.

Safety with an Order of Protection
Safety in Public, Work, or Home

  • Tell your co-worker(s), boss and/or office or building security about your situation. Provide a picture of your barterer if possible.

  • Arrange to have an answering machine, caller ID or co-worker screen your telephone calls if possible

  • Devise a safety plan for leaving work. Have someone escort you to your car or bus, and wait with you until you are safely on your way. Use a variety of routes to go home if possible. Think about what you would do if something happened while going home.

  • Go to different grocery stores, businesses, and banks if possible. If this is not possible, change the time and day which you go shopping.

  • Change toe locks on your doors as soon as possible. Buy additional locks and safety devices to secure your windows.

  • Discuss the safety plan with your children for when you are not with them.

  • Tell your children's school, day care, ect., who has permission to pick up the children.

  • Notify your neighbors and landlord that your partner no longer lives with you and that should call police if they see them near your residence.

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