Safety Tips & Safety Planning
Whether or not you’re ready to leave your abuser, there are things you can do to protect yourself. These safety tips can help make the difference.
A safety plan is a strategy that helps you to reduce the risks that you & your children face. Having a safety plan increases your chances of leaving without harm. There is no right or wrong way to do a safety plan. Make it unique to you. Review it often. Make changes as you need to. We can help you develop a safety plan. Contact us to book an appointment to build your safety plan. Or you can ask a social worker, family violence worker, or a police officer to work with you on this.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none.”
In a Crisis Situation
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Call 911 & yell to alert your neighbours.
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Arrange for a friend/neighbour to call the police if they hear a disturbance in your home.
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Have a code word for your children, family, friends, or neighbours for when you need the police.
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Use your right to protect yourself until you are out of immediate danger.
When Planning to Leave
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Get your own bank account &/or credit card – tell no one about the account & ensure the bank will not send you mailings or release account info to anyone but you. This is easily done & very common.
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Keep a prepaid cell phone - charged - with preprogrammed numbers coded for those who can help when you may need it.
When You Are On Your Own
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Change the locks on your doors & secure your windows.
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Make sure your children have a safety plan for when you are not with them.
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Inform school or daycare about who has permission to pick up your children.
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Inform your neighbours/landlord that your partner no longer lives with you.
On the Job/In Public
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Decide who at work should know about your situation & supply them with a photo of your abuser, including security, if necessary.
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Screen your telephone calls.
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Make sure you can leave work safely.
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If you drive, park in a safe place.
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Ask someone to escort you to your means of transportation.
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Use a variety of routes home, if possible.
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Avoid always using the same grocery store, video store, etc.
With a Restraining Order/EPO
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Keep it with you at all times & give a copy to a family member, trusted friend or neighbour.
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Call the police if your abuser violates the order.
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Tell family/friends, neighbours & your physician that you have a restraining order.
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Have friends, neighbours or landlord contact the police if they see your abuser near your home, school or place of work.
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Ask them to give the police a description/picture of your abuser & the make/model
& license plate of their car.
Cover Your Web Tracks
In Microsoft Internet Explorer:
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Click on “Tools” in the menu.
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Select “Internet Options”.
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Select the “General” tab.
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In “Temp Internet Files,” click “Delete Files.”
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In the bottom section, “History,” click “Clear History"
In Mozilla
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Click on “Tools” in the menu.
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Select “Options.”
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Select “Privacy” in the left column.
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In “History,” click “Clear.”
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And in “Cache,” click “Clear.”
“I don’t think people realize how much strength it takes to pull your own self out of a poisonous situation with someone you love deeply. So if you’ve done that today or any day, I’m proud of you.” - Horacio Jones
We encourage you to take steps to get help today.
Choosing to get help when you’re in an abusive situation takes an enormous amount of courage. Fear, doubt, confusion and embarrassment are all emotional states that can seem to pull you in, hold you down & make you freeze.
But taking this one step is among the most important things you’ll do in your life. It’s a step towards hope, help, love & to making a plan to overcome all obstacles.
To find immediate resources available right now, check our Info & Resources tab.
We do not accept
walk ins
With a small team, we are simply not staffed to meet the needs of drop in clients. Please call or email to make an appointment with an intake worker. Thank you.
Appointments to access our services
The best and most direct way to access our services is to call or email us. We do require informed consent which we share with you during our intake process.
Who can we offer services to?
We serve residents of St Albert, Sturgeon County, Parkland County & the surrounding areas. At this time, we are not able to provide counselling services to Edmonton , Spruce Grove, & Stony Plain residents.