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How to Create a Safety Plan

Putting a Safety Plan to Work within Your Foster or Adoptive Home

By , About.com Guide

Print off a handy worksheet to help with creating a safety plan.

Writing Up the Safety Plan

  1. Define the issue or problem. Be precise and clear with the definition.
    • ex. Max inappropriately touches himself while watching television in the family room. This occurs daily.

    • ex. Sally leaves the home whenever Mom turns her back.

  2. Be clear about who you need to protect.
    • the child
    • other children
    • pets
    • property
    • ex. Max's behavior is inappropriate for the other children and family members in the home.
    • ex. Sally could become lost or injured in the street.

  3. Pinpoint when the behavior occurs, if possible and predictable.
    • When bedroom doors are shut while others are in the room.
    • Left unsupervised.
    • When told no or when limits are set.
    • Before/after visitation with family
    • While doing mindless activities.
    • At night.
  4. Determine who is involved in the safety plan.
    • Determine which adult is doing what action.

    • Remember to share the plan with all caregivers, including short term babysitters.

    • ex. Mom or Dad will redirect Max by giving him a stress ball whenever he starts to inappropriately touch himself while watching television.

    • ex. Dad will supervise Sally while Mom cooks dinner.

    Other Ideas for safety plans:

    • Portable door alarms
    • House alarm systems
    • Baby gates
    • Locate locks high on doors that lead to the outside or basement. Never place locks on the outside of bedrooms (to lock children in).
    • Direct line-of-site supervision
    • Discipline ideas/techniques to work on issues
    • No shut doors while playing with friends or siblings
    • No 1-on-1 time with friends or siblings
    • No pets in bedrooms or bathrooms
    • Never alone with pets
    • No roommates
    • Opposite sex parent never left alone with child
    • No overnight stay with friends
    • Secret location of matches and lighters
    • Parent never alone during bath time or tucking in at bedtime
    • Seek help from a therapist or other professional
  5. Set a time limit for the safety plan.
    • How long will your plan be in place?
    • How often will you reassess your plan?

    • What change are you looking for within the child or behavior?

  6. What if the safety plan fails?
    • If your preventative measures don't work, have a list of crisis numbers to call.

    • Consider a therapist or close friends/family to be on this list.
    • Be prepared to report the incident to the proper case workers or other authorities if the offense is severe enough.
    • If the child's behavior is a crime against another person or property, you may have to call the police.
  7. Re-evaluate and ask yourself some questions.
    • How did your plan succeed/fail?
    • When?
    • What worked?
    • What can you do better tomorrow?
    • What did you overlook?
Print off a handy worksheet to help with creating a safety plan.
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