Harm reduction leaders state that intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosures are rarely direct.

Rarely will someone say they’re “being beaten” or “abused”; instead, they may hint by saying that someone ”lays hands” on them, or that they “get into it”, or employ some other euphemism. It’s important that people listen to and take these indirect disclosures seriously. The same is true when harm reduction workers see or hear partnerships in which both parties are violent firsthand.

In all cases, harm reduction workers should first assess for issues of immediate safety and then work with the participant(s) to see what kinds of harm reduction or restorative justice plan they can make regarding this partner, up to and including an emergency exit plan.

Emergency exit plans should be specific and contain as many of the following elements as possible:

• Identification of Risks: Track patterns to recognize potential dangers and triggers that may escalate IPV.
• Resource Mapping: Identify and map out available resources and support systems. This includes knowing the phone number for the closest IPV shelter.
• Options Assessment: Evaluate different options and strategies to increase safety.
• Go Bag: Set aside a bag for essential items or copies of items like money, keys, documents, prescriptions and medications. Don’t forget to include relevant items for children, pets or other dependents. Have your go-bag ready in a secure and easily accessible place
• Seek Support: Think about safe people like family members, friends, coworkers, or other community members you can turn to in case of emergency or when you are ready to leave.
• Create a Personal Safety Plan: Think about the circumstances under which you would leave and the logistics you need to think about to do so (money, transportation, a place to go, paperwork, contacts etc). Also consider safety issues, such as who you will tell and how you will protect your dependents. The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence has an extensive checklist for safety planning that can help.