Family Safety: Practical Resources for Parents

Build a family safety plan around your real life.

Family safety can include the places your household goes, the devices and apps family members use, and how you communicate when plans change or someone needs help. There is no single checklist that fits every household. Start with the concerns that matter to your family, make a few clear agreements, and practice how to use them.

Created by Officer Nae Nae, a Utah law-enforcement officer, Special Victims investigator, ICAC Task Force member, and university-level Criminal Justice instructor. Learn about the author and this independent educational site.

Five steps to get started

1. 01

   Choose one or two priorities.

   Think about your family’s current routines, ages, devices, and concerns. You do not need to solve every safety issue at once.

2. 02

   Agree how to reconnect.

   Write down important contacts and choose where to meet if family members are separated. Use the family emergency information sheet or see Ready.gov’s family communication planning resources.

3. 03

   Set digital expectations together.

   Talk about apps, privacy, contact with others, and when a child should come to you. Parental controls can support family rules; the FTC explains what common controls can do. Start with the First Phone Safety Kit or questions before a new app.

4. 04

   Make it easy to ask for help.

   Agree on a trusted adult and what to do if something feels wrong, online or in person. The Come To Me First agreement gives families a place to begin that conversation.

5. 05

   Practice and revisit the plan.

   Review it when routines, devices, caregivers, or family needs change. Use short conversations to keep the plan familiar and useful.

These free resources provide general education, not individualized risk assessments or a guarantee of safety. For urgent danger, call 911. For other situations, see official reporting and support options.