During the COVID-19 pandemic, many households that suffer from heightened amounts of domestic abuse, financial loss, and isolation have been faced with lay-offs, home school, and quarantine measures deepening these areas of household stress. At worst, survivors of domestic violence have been forced into isolation with abusers. Since domestic violence thrives in secrecy, victims of domestic violence must take measures to protect themselves while stay at home orders are in place. The California Victim Compensation Board (Cal VCB) suggests safety measures for survivors of domestic violence.
- Create a Personal Safety Plan
To help to reduce the risk of injury from violence, it can help to be aware of:
- Identify exits.
- Practice your escape plan.
- Establish a sign or safety word to use with friends, family, or trusted network, to alert them to contact law enforcement.
- Teach children how to dial 911.
- Remove weapons from the home or relocating them to hard-to-reach places.
- Position your vehicle to aid with a quick escape if needed, and keep it filled with gas.
- Contact a domestic violence advocate to get help with making a safety plan and accessing necessary resources.
- When contacting an advocate, be cautious about how you contact them. Using a device that an abuser may have access to can jeopardize your safety. Use a prepaid cell phone or a friend’s phone, if possible.
To apply for Victim Compensation
- Create an application using CalVCB Online — a secure and private portal that can be easily accessed from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
- Contact a local county Victim Witness Assistance Center.
- Call the CalVCB Help Line at (800) 777-9229.
- Download an application from CalVCB’s How to Apply page.
- Visit the CalVCB website at https://victims.ca.gov/for-victims/
Additional Resources
- Telehealth services are available for medical, mental health, and education services. CalVCB allows up to 5 telehealth services per application. Service providers can submit an application to increase the number of sessions they can offer.
Did you know that the NCTCC Mobile Application can help you create a Safety Plan on your mobile device? Download the here: https://nctcc.org/nctcc-app/
