As part of safety planning, which action helps integrate external institutions into protection?

• A. Inform work and schools of existing protection orders
• B. Publicly disclose the abuse to co-workers
• C. Cancel all documentation
• D. Stop communication with authorities

Answer: (A)

Coordinating protection by bringing in external institutions is essential for a safety plan. Sharing the existence of a protection order with a survivor’s workplace or school helps those settings enforce the order and respond quickly if it’s violated. When employers and schools know about the order, they can put appropriate safeguards in place, monitor behavior, adjust schedules or access, and support the survivor in maintaining safety across different environments. This creates a broader safety net beyond where the abuse occurred and ensures consistent protection.

Other options fail to support protection in practical ways. Publicly disclosing the abuse to co-workers can compromise privacy and safety and may put the survivor at greater risk. Cancelling all documentation undermines accountability and legal enforcement. Stopping communication with authorities cuts off access to formal support and resources that help keep the survivor safe.