Safety Plan

A major part of child behavior management is to create a safety plan that ensures that risk is reduced. The main components of addressing children behaviors are to Predict, Protect, Plan, and Prevent. Parenting problems can be greatly reduced when the unmet needs of the child that trigger the behaviors are identified.

Being able to predict, based on prior experience, the behavior of children greatly increases your ability to protect all people involved when children behavior problems occur. It’s important to describe specifically the unsafe behaviors so that a safety plan can be put together that provides safe alternatives. Of course there should be plans in place that deal with different levels of intensity and severity of a defiant child.

In order to prevent some of the possible consequences of a child’s outburst, take the physical aspects of the setting into account. Make sure that any objects that can be used as a weapon are removed, and determine who can be at risk in the immediate environment.

Necessary Items

• Phone numbers of family, friends, respite providers, mental health professionals, emergency contacts, community resources, and any other numbers to which you need immediate access.• Directions and maps to locations of importance.• Two (2) columns split down the middle of the page: one for possible crises, the other for corresponding intervention strategies.• Under “Possible Crisis,” list the behaviors that occur when your child is being defiant. Prioritize those behaviors in terms of escalation.• Intervention strategies should be broken down into each level of behavior for both response and follow-up.

Template

Here’s a template of how to structure your Plan.

SUCCESS & SAFETY PLAN

PHONE LIST:

NAME RELATIONSHIP PHONE # Friend – group Friend – soccer Psychiatrist Social Worker Neighbor Neighbor Teacher

EMERGENCY CONTACTS:NAME RELATIONSHIP PHONE # Therapist Doctor

BEHAVIOR PLAN:POSSIBLE CRISIS INTERVENTION STRATEGYI. Stage 1 Behavior: A. Not following directives Response: a) Get her/his attentionb) Ask if what was said was heard.c) Ask her/him to repeat and restate your directive. Follow up:Ask her/him to express any disagreement in a positive fashion. B. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc. C. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc.II. Stage 2 Behavior: A. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc. B. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc. C. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc.III. Stage 3 Behavior: A. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc. B. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc. C. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc.IV. Stage 4 Behavior: A. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc. B. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc. C. Response:a)b) etc.

Follow up:a)b) etc.

ADDITIONAL VITAL INFORMATION

MEDICAL:Medications Type Dosage Time to administer Known Allergies Details Medicine

Maps & Directions:

1.) Joey’s House – From house, 2 blocks east on Washington, right on Webster, left on Jefferson. (1112 Jefferson, #5)2.)

There you have it. With this safety plan, you have intervention strategies available to apply and practice as needed, contact information, and vital data for your use as well as for the use of any respite provider, family member, babysitter, or professional.

Be Proactive

I have always stressed the importance of taking responsibility to improve our communication and intervention skills, so that we are in the driver’s seat, and not a passenger constantly reacting to every twist and turn that occurs. By setting the pace, you are the positive role model that your child desperately needs to navigate through all the detours and potholes that may appear.

According to child psychologist Haim Ginott, “Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.” It is imperative that we recognize defiance and anger as distress signals from precious beings that are struggling to figure things out. The most outrageous child is merely acting out unconsciously the frustration of not being heard and understood. Honoring their values and strengths gives them the space to BE themselves.

Possible Scenarios

At this point, let me provide some samples of behaviors and possible responses. An example of Stage 1 behavior might be not following your directives. A response could be getting your child’s attention, and then asking if what was said was heard. Ask your child to repeat and restate your directive.

The follow up could be to ask your child to express any disagreement in a positive fashion. A Stage 3 or Stagen4 behavior would be something like extreme cursing or property damage where your response would be to stay calm and be aware of your own emotional barometer, keeping out of range of any physical harm, and call for support if necessary.

The follow up would be speaking to the child after the storm outside and within has subsided, inquiring in a non threatening way about the child’s needs, choices and end results of those choices. Also explore alternatives for the future, and being accountable for current choices, while helping identify natural consequences.

As a result of the use of a safety plan, most behaviors will stabilize, and at that point be consistent in applying your action steps with an immediate response when needed. Also get support from others, which include some respite for you and the child.

Positive parenting is not having unrealistic expectations, but addressing the reality of the situation with sound behavior strategies. Once you understand that what triggers most behaviors is some unmet need of your child, you can then develop some suitable interventions.

A safety plan is a key ingredient for any parenting system. Always keep in mind to separate the behavior from your child. You love your child unconditionally, but are not okay with some of the behaviors. Click here to return to the Transforming Child Behavior Home page.

When done reviewing Safety Plan, click here to return to the Manage Care page.