Does the person you love...

• Threaten to hurt or kill you or your children?
• Put you down in public or keep you from contacting family/friends?
• Control where you go, who you talk to, and how you spend money?
• Throw, push, hit, choke, kick, or slap you?
• Say it's your fault, promise it won't happen again - but then it does?

If any of this is happening to you, you are being abused.

Plan for Your Safety

Be prepared...

• Know where you can get help. Keep a list of important phone numbers (police, domestic violence hotline, hospital) with you.
• Plan with your children. Identify a safe place for children (room with a lock, neighbor's house). Let them know that their job is to stay safe, not to protect you.
• Arrange a signal with a neighbor for when you need help.
• Prepare an emergency kit that you can get to quickly. (You may want to keep it at a trusted friend's/neighbor's house.)
• Include:
  • extra set of car and house keys
  • money, food stamps, checkbook, credit card(s), pay stubs
  • birth certificates and other ID for you and your children
  • your driver's license or other photo identification
  • Social Security card or green card/work permit
  • health insurance cards, medications for you and your children
  • deed or lease to your house or apartment
  • any court papers or orders
  • change of clothes for you and your children
• Plan the safest time to get away. Know which doors, windows, etc. provide escape. Practice with your children for an emergency.
• Get medical help and tell what happened. Ask them to document it.
• Have the doctor, nurse, or a friend take pictures of your injuries/bruises. Save any ripped or bloody clothes.
• Talk to someone about what you can do next. Call a 24-hour domestic violence program hotline.

Help Is Available

You can get FREE and CONFIDENTIAL help and information from a domestic violence program in your area.

Services Include:

• 24-hour hotlines
• shelters/safe homes
• children's counseling/programs
• individual and group counseling
• court and emergency room assistance
• help with welfare application

Domestic violence programs can help you develop a safety plan.

All contact with domestic violence programs is CONFIDENTIAL.

Other Helpful Links

• http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/
• http://www.ncadv.org/
• http://www.pcadv.org/
• http://www.womenslaw.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Article courtesy of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV).