The personal safety plan brochure can be a convenient reminder for a woman to review at any time. The brochure has space for emergency and other local phone numbers that she may need readily available. It is recommended that the numbers of local domestic violence programs, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, local police agencies, district attorneys offices, and other state and local referral agencies be included on the brochure. Due to the fact that the brochure has information on leaving an abusive situation, it should only be given out at a safe time and place, and should not fall into the hands of the abuser. Successful safety planning should enable women to continue evaluating and revising their plan for safety, as needed, even when they are no longer receiving services.
Family violence occurs in all ethnic, economic, racial and social groups.
In the domestic violence field, it is widely-accepted that abuse is based in the need of one person to exert control and maintain power over another. The wheel shows the overall pattern of abusive and violent behaviors which are used to establish and maintain control over the battered woman. Regular use of less obvious forms of abuse, such as intimidation, isolation and economic abuse when reinforced by acts of physical or sexual violence make up the larger system of abuse. The Power and Control wheel lists abusive behaviors which firmly establish a pattern of intimidation and control in the violent relationship.