Safety Planning

If you are scared for your life or fear the abuser will be violent to your or the children, call 911. Before another violent act takes place, make escape plans:

• Identify a safe place where you can go and leave a bag of essential clothing, car keys, and essential papers and records there or with a trusted friend or relative.
• Make a list of important telephone numbers (emergency phone numbers, friends, relatives, and/or colleagues) and keep a supply of coins or a charged up go-phone with you to make phone calls.
• Talk about your safety plan with your children. You should have a signal that only you and your children know. They must understand that once the signal is given, they have to leave the house QUICKLY and that they must call police or ask a neighbor to call the police.
• If your abuser has access to your cell phone account or computer, get a prepaid cell phone and recognize he/she may read your e-mail, messages and look at the web sites you have visited.

A Restraining Order can:

• Change to order the person who harms to stay at least 100 yards away from you and/or your children, whether you are at home, work, school, in your car, etc.
• Sort out what will happen about custody and visitation of your children until a permanent court decision is made.
• Sometimes change to order the person harming you to move out of the home or apartment.
• Stop constant texts, phone calls, email and stalking by the person harming you.

Our staff can help you with the paperwork; it costs nothing to talk to us. For more information contact the CNVC office at 588-9305.

Other resources:

Online: California Courts Self Help Center
Family Law Facilitator – 41 Yaney Street, Sonora 209-533-6565