For many, the term “safety plan” inspires thoughts of a home evacuation map. While looking at a safety evacuation map, one may notice fire extinguishers, pet locations, stairwells, and emergency exits. There may even be a list of important items such as “wallet, keys, and cell phone.” This concept is a good starting point to consider on how to plan for evacuating a domestic violence situation.

The safety plan I would like to bring attention to is a planned list of actions a survivor of domestic abuse can take to help keep a victim safe from their abuser. This is especially helpful if a victim of domestic abuse still resides with their perpetrator. However, this kind of planning can be adapted to fit any form of urgent escape from a dangerous situation. 

Often, to exit a domestic violence relationship one must also leave their home. A survivor may need several tools and resources to transition into a safer location. For example, if a victim of domestic abuse is ready to leave their abusive environment they may need a safety plan, phone numbers to domestic violence shelters, information on how to file charges against an abuser or information on how to obtain a protective order. By downloading the NCTCC Victim Services Mobile Application, you will receive information on how to access these types of resources and more. Visit nctcc.org/nctcc-app/ to download the NCTCC Victim Services Mobile App.

Safety Planning Brainstorming Exercise

If you need to leave an abusive relationship, here is an exercise you can do to better prepare for a safety plan and a safer exit. Here are important tips to remember:

1. No one safety plan works for everyone. A safety plan should be made to best work for you and your home.
2. If possible, always keep your keys and your purse in the same spot to support your ability to leave from the safest exit. 
3. Identify the emergency call button on your phone.
4. Consider keeping an extra 911 cell phone in a safe location. This phone would be specifically used for dialing 911 in the instance that your phone was not available. 
5. If you have children or people you care for, consider identifying a secret and safe place to meet up in case you get separated after leaving.

Preparing While Living With the Abuser

Consider brainstorming the following questions to better prepare for a safety plan:

• What have you done in the past to keep yourself and your children more safe from domestic violence?
• What are ways that you and your family can be safe while living with an abuser?
• How can you exit safely from an abuser? Consider what parts of the house relationship tension builds, and consider the best escape routes for each of these locations…
• Who is a trusted person who you can ask for support to call 911? This could be someone in earshot of an argument, perhaps a neighbor, your children, or a roommate. Consider using a code word. 
• What will you need to leave an abusive situation?
• What would you put in your go bag? 
• Where would you want to keep your go bag? Is it better to keep this in your vehicle, at a neighbor or friends house, or somewhere else?
• Where is a safe place to store irreplaceable or difficult to replace items such as photographs, certificates, documents, keys, bank account information, family heirlooms, or cash?

Leaving the abuser

• Where would you go if you had to leave your home? Consider keeping a list of shelters and resources available to transition into a safer environment. 
• What kinds of resources do you want immediately available to you after you leave your abuser? Consider shelter locations, advocates, law enforcement, legal resources, and protection orders.
• Where are low risk areas in your home? For example, the kitchen is likely a high risk area because many kitchen items can be used as weapons.
• If you notice tension building with an abuser, how can you transition the situation into a low risk area in your home?
• Is it possible to leave when your abuser is not at home or when they are asleep?

For a comprehensive safety plan please visit nctcc.org/nctcc-app/ to download the NCTCC Victim Services Mobile App. To locate the safety plan in the application click on the “Safety” Icon and then select “ Domestic Abuse Safety.”

Violence affects people in all stages of life, from infants to the elderly. Many people who experience violence survive it but may also suffer from long-term physical, mental, and emotional health problems.

In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2020 Factsheet Addressing Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) People states that homicide is the 3^rd leading cause of death among AI/AN  males (aged 1-44 years) and the 6^th leading cause of death among AI/AN females (aged 1-44- years). An earlier study found that most homicides among AI/AN were initiated by an interpersonal conflict, such as intimate partner violence or domestic violence.

National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) 2018 data; National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS); based on CDC Violence Prevention Webpage – https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/abuse.html

Social distancing and isolation may increases risk of abuse in the home

Some of the public health actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 include avoiding large and small gatherings in private places and public spaces, working remotely, and closing schools. While these measures are critical for slowing the spread of COVID-19, they may contribute to an increase in violence and suicide due to:

• Social isolation or lack of social support
• Financial, emotional, or physical stress
• Lack of time alone or lack of physical and mental space
• Lack of childcare
• Loss of job or income
• Depression or anxiety
• Substance misuse
• Reduced access to mental health or substance use services and supports

In addition, social distancing measures can lead to more time in the home or in the same space as an abuser, increasing the risk for abuse. This can include child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. Victims of violence may be unable to access help due to limited outside social contact, or they may not be able to seek victim services or shelter. The COVID-19 pandemic may also impact those experiencing violence in the following ways:

• Abusers may further isolate and control victims of violence.
• Abusers may share misinformation about the pandemic to control or frighten victims or prevent them from seeking medical treatment, if they need it.
• Programs that serve victims, such as shelters and counseling centers, may be full or unable to assist them. Victims may fear entering shelters for fear of being exposed to COVID-19.
• Travel restrictions may impact a victim’s escape or safety plan.

Safety plans can help lower your risk

If you or someone you care about is experiencing violence, here are a few suggestions that may help:

• Create a safety plan to outline ways to remain safe while you are in your current situation, planning to leave, or after you leave.
• Practice self-care as much as possible.
• If it is safe, reach out for help and try to maintain social connections through phone calls, texts, emails, and social media platforms.

A safety plan is a practical guide that helps lower your risk of being hurt by your abuser. It should include information specific to you and your life. A safety plan is not a restraining order or a protection order.  A safety plan provides guidance on what you may need to bring if you have to leave your home quickly.  

The Northern California Tribal Court Coalition (NCTCC) App contains fillable safety plans and self-care tips. The App is available for your Android or Apple mobile device and can be obtained by:

• Searching for NCTCC in your Google Play or Apple App store.
• Visiting the download page at nctcc.org/nctcc-app

Once you download the App, go to the main menu and tap the Safety button to access Safety Plans.  To access a Self Care Checklist, simply tap the Self-Care button on the main menu.  Self-Care practices can help to ease stress and increase resiliency.

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 social distance practices with their domestic abusers. Since domestic violence thrives in secrecy, stress, and isolation, victims of domestic violence must seek protection during the COVID-19 stay at home orders.

According to the California Victim Compensation Board, there are safety measures that can be taken by survivors of domestic violence.

1. 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.
• Establishing with friends, family, or trusted network, a sign or safety word to alert law enforcement.
• Teaching children how to dial 911.
• Removing 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.

2. Contact a domestic violence advocate who can assist with making a safety plan and provide additional necessary resources.
3. 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, for a service provider to apply to offer additional sessions, they can submit an application.
• Downloading the NCTCC Mobile Application can help with creating a Safety Plan on your mobile device. Visit: https://nctcc.org/nctcc-app/ 

The State of California wants to make it easy for victims of violence to apply for compensation benefits. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you with the application process

• Complete every section of the application possible. When filling out a CalVCB application, remember that the more specific and complete you can be, the quicker your application can be processed.

• Include copies of crime reports, bills, receipts and other related documents supporting your specific claim with the application.

• Send crime-related bills to the insurance company, workers’ compensation carrier or Medi-Cal right away. CalVCB works with insurance companies to cover crime-related expenses.

• The application has been translated into multiple languages for ease of non-English speaking victims.

• You are eligible to apply even if you do not have a social security number. CalVCB does not require citizenship and does not ask you to document your status. 

• Victim advocates can assist victims throughout the compensation process. Advocates can help with completing applications, gathering documentation, finding emergency food, clothing, and shelter, and filing temporary restraining orders.

• Victims can even designate their advocates or other trusted person to represent them. A victim’s representative can act as a contact on the claim, in case CalVCB has questions about the application.

• If a victim has an attorney, the attorney can represent the victim and CalVCB will reimburse the attorney for their time. Attorney representatives must document their time along with details about the work they do on the claim in order to receive reimbursement for their services.

CalVCB has an online portal where you can begin your claim. Visit CalVCB online to get started.