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Safety Planning With Domestic Violence Victims and Their Children

This section provides resources for creating safety plans for victims and their children, including State and local examples.

Safety Plans Children's Bureau (HHS) User Manual Series (2003) In Child Protection in Families Experiencing Domestic Violence Presents sample safety plans for the victim and child. Finding Safety and Support (PDF - 36 KB) National Domestic Violence Hotline (2004) Provides information on the types of support available to domestic violence victims and steps for increasing personal safety in the home.

Advocacy Matters: Helping Mothers and Their Children Involved With the Child Protection System (PDF - 420 KB)
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2003)
Provides useful resources for advocates working with women affected by domestic violence who are involved with child protective services. Includes information on helping mothers create a safety plan.

Battered Women and Their Families: Intervention Strategies and Treatment Programs
Roberts (2007)
View Abstract
Explores the role of social workers, crisis counselors, nurses, and domestic violence advocates in promoting safety, survival skills, recovery, and social functioning to battered women and their children.

Building Safety for Battered Women and Their Children Into the Child Protection System (PDF - 708 KB)
Pence & Taylor (2003)
Explains how to use case files and focus groups to locate systemic problems in the handling of child protection cases where there has been a history of domestic violence.

Community Partnerships for Protecting Children: Lessons About Addressing Domestic Violence (PDF - 133 KB)
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2006)
Discusses a community initiative that emphasizes that the child's safety is directly connected to the safety of the primary caregiver.

Safety Planning for Abused Women and Their Children
Hardesty & Campbell (2004)
In Protecting Children From Domestic Violence: Strategies for Community Intervention
View Abstract
Describes the provisions that should be included in safety plans for battered women with children, including information on danger assessment, custody negotiations, child visits, parenting plans, and sources of support for the child and victim.

Safety Planning for Domestic Violence Victims With Disabilities
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2003)
Aims to help domestic violence agencies increase their safety planning services to people with disabilities by providing specific information about responding in a crisis, responding when there is more time to plan and prepare, specific considerations for a variety of disabilities, and a sample of safety planning questions.

'Talking to My Mum': Strengthening Relationships Between Mothers and Children in the Aftermath of Family Violence (PDF - 2160 KB)
Humphreys
Social Work Now, 2007
Describes a project to strengthen relationships between children and their mothers in households affected by domestic violence. Addresses issues such as self-esteem and confidence, feelings, safety, and communication.

Working With Young Children and Their Families: Recommendations for Domestic Violence Agencies and Batterer Intervention Programs (PDF - 1220 KB)
Gewirtz & Menakem (2004)
In Early Childhood, Domestic Violence, and Poverty: Helping Young Children and Their Families
Discusses strategies for ensuring the safety of and providing services to children and adult victims in families affected by domestic violence.

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State and local examples

Child Welfare Services With Families Experiencing Family Violence: Participant Guide (PDF - 4210 KB)
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (2007)
Links to a curriculum for child welfare workers working with families experiencing family violence. Includes a module on assessing safety and risk and developing safety plans for victims.

Domestic Violence and Child Safety Planning (PDF - 34 KB)
New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (2008)
Discusses the correlation between intimate partner violence and child abuse and neglect as well as steps a nonabusive parent can take to help reduce the impact domestic violence has on a child.

Model Protocol on Safety Planning for Domestic Violence Victims With Disabilities
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Provides examples of protocols designed to help domestic violence programs in Washington State expand their advocacy practices to provide quality services to victims with disabilities.

Safety Focused Parenting Plan Guide for Parents (PDF - 1630 KB)
Oregon Judicial Department & Office of the State Court Administrator (2003)
Offers three examples of parenting plans to be filed in court during divorce or child custody proceedings. The samples help parents develop a plan for the child's safety while he or she is with the other parent, including provisions for overnight visits and public drop-off and pick-up sites.

Safety Plan for Immigrant Women Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence (PDF - 644 KB)
Ayuda, Inc. (2006)
Offers a self-help plan for immigrant victims of domestic violence to protect against the immediate threat of violence and develop long-term steps to prevent future violence.

Updated on March 1, 2010