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Safety Plan

 

Safety plans can be made for a variety of situations: for dealing with an emergency, such as when you are threatened with a physical assault or an assault has occurred; for continuing to live with or to date a partner who has been abusive; or for protecting yourself after you have ended a relationship with an abusive partner.

 

Use what you already know

If you are a battered woman, you probably know more about safety planning and risk assessment that you might realize. Being in a relationship with an abusive partner – and surviving – requires considerable skill and resourcefulness. Any time you do or say something as a way to protect yourself or your children, you are assessing risk and enacting a safety plan. You do it all the time it’s just not always a conscious process.

 

Think it through

It can be a helpful safety strategy to evaluate risks and make safety plans in a more intentional way. Whether you are currently with your partner or have ended the relationship, and whether you choose to use the available services system or to involve the police, there are certain things that are helpful to consider in planning for your future safety.

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Be aware of dangers

If you are planning to leave your partner or already have left, be aware that batterers often escalate their violence during times of separation, increasing your risk for harm, including serious and life-threatening injury. Making a separation safety plan can help reduce the risks to you and your children.

 

Evaluate your options

Only you can judge whom it’s safe to tell about your situation and who to ask for help. Sometimes, people who don’t have good information about domestic violence respond to battered women in ways that aren’t helpful, even when they mean well. On the other hand, you might feel comfortable asking help from someone you know.  It’s your decision. The important thing is for you to identify all the people who might be willing and able to help you. Make a list of their phone numbers and attach it to your safety plan for easy reference.

 

Plan ahead

You don’t have to wait for an emergency to ask for help. In fact, it’s a good idea to talk to people who can help before there’s a crisis. Find out what they are willing and able to do for you. That way, you’ll know in advance if you have a place to stay, a source of financial assistance, or a safe person to keep copies of important papers.

 

Reduce your risk

No battered woman has control over her partner’s violence, but women can and do find ways to reduce their risk of harm. This safety plan is a tool to assist you in identifying options, evaluating those options, and committing to a plan to reduce your risk when confronted with the threat of harm or with actual harm. There’s no right or wrong way to develop a safety plan. Use what applies or change it to reflect your particular situation. Make it your own, than review it regularly and make changes as needed.

Domestic Violence

Victim Adovocate Unit

Belton, Missouri

 Police Department

7001 E. 163rd St.
Belton, MO  64012


General Calls: 816.331.5522
Dispatch: 816.331.1500 
TIPS: 816.348.4499 
Fax: 816.322.7057 

Crystal Beal

Victim Advocate

816-348-4430

bpdvau@gmail.com

Sexual Assault

Upcoming Events 

Sexual Assault Awareness Virtual Event

Be the rock

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April 10th, 2020

Your Belton Police Department Victim Service Unit has placed some teal rocks around some high foot trafficked areas. While everyone is out walking and practicing their social distancing, be on the lookout for one of our rocks. If you find one, you can keep it or leave it for the next person to see. We do ask that you take a picture of it and post it on social media with #SAAM #BPDvAU #Yourstorymatters . Also, you can post it on our facebook page.

What we are hoping for with today's event, is even though we all might need these empowering words right now when our world is kind of crazy, there might be people out there who are struggling with being a victim and might need to know that they are not alone and that their story matters.

Do your research

April 11th, 2020

Did you know that the Belton Police Department Victim Service Unit has its own website? BPDVAU.ORG. We believe in fostering a culture that prioritizes consent and respect, and responds to and supports survivors and their allies. One of the ways the unit does this is by keeping several different resources posted here for not only domestic violence, but also for sexual assault.
Not only do we have information and resources but there are several different repatible websites you can visit. RAINN, NSVRC, and MCADSV are a few of them.
Today’s Sexual Assault Awareness Virtual Event, we are asking you do research on Sexual Assault Awareness and how you do your part. Once, you have done this, post to your social media what you have found out with #SAAM #BPDVAU

Donating new undergarments

April 12th, 2020

Sometimes when a victim is sexually assaulted, they might need to give the SANE nurse or the police department their undergarments for evidence. Only 5 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison. This is one of the reasons why it is important for law enforcement to collect all the evidence that they can.

 

Today’s Sexual Assault Virtual Event we are asking that you purchase undergarments through amazon or your local store and have them shipped to the Belton Police Department or Cass County Sheriff's Office.

When we have a victim of sexual assault and their undergarments are requested for evidence, we will be able to supply this to our victims. This allows the victim to be able to replace them instead of wearing nothing at all under their clothing when they are done.

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This website was made possible by the STOP VAWA grant. 

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