When the World Feels Uncertain: How to Create a Family Safety Plan During ICE Enforcement Activity
A Grounded, Trauma-Informed Guide for Families in Clarksville and Middle Tennessee
When You Feel Like Control Is Slipping Away, You’re Not Alone
If you’ve felt your chest tighten at the mention of immigration enforcement…
If your children are asking questions you don’t know how to answer…
If the uncertainty in your community feels heavy and constant…
You are not alone.
Moments of increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence can leave families feeling anxious, hypervigilant, and deeply unsettled. For many in Clarksville, Nashville, and across Middle Tennessee, this is not political — it is personal. It is about safety. Stability. And protecting the people you love most.
At Trauma & Therapy Center of Tennessee, we understand how uncertainty impacts the nervous system. When something feels out of our control, our bodies shift into protection mode. That can show up as:
Racing thoughts
Difficulty sleeping
Irritability
Emotional overwhelm
Children acting out or withdrawing
Physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches
During times like this, one of the most regulating things a family can do is create a clear, calm, structured safety plan.
Not because you expect something to happen.
But because preparation restores power.
This guide walks you through how to build a trauma-informed Family Safety Plan — one that reduces chaos and increases clarity.
Why Planning Reduces Anxiety (Even Before Anything Happens)
When we don’t have a plan, our brains imagine worst-case scenarios.
When we do have a plan, our nervous system settles.
Safety planning:
Reduces fear of the unknown
Creates emotional structure for children
Replaces helplessness with preparation
Strengthens family unity
Restores a sense of control
Planning does not mean panic.
Planning means protection.
Step 1: Prepare a “Go Bag”
Because clarity in crisis reduces chaos
A “go bag” is a pre-packed emergency bag with essentials for 24–72 hours.
Keep it in a consistent, accessible location.
Include:
Copies of identification documents
Immigration paperwork
Emergency contact list
Medication list + several days’ supply
Basic hygiene items
Phone charger
Small amount of cash
Change of clothes
Comfort items for children
For children, even a small stuffed animal or family photo can regulate fear in stressful moments.
Preparation communicates safety.
Step 2: Gather and Protect Critical Documents
In uncertain moments, documents are stability
Take time to gather:
Driver’s licenses or state IDs
Birth certificates (for adults and children)
Passports (any country)
Social Security cards (if applicable)
Immigration paperwork (visas, work permits, court documents, receipts)
If something is missing, request official copies.
Store documents:
In a secure but accessible location
In a waterproof folder
In both physical and digital form (if safe)
With trusted adults if appropriate
Older children should know where documents are kept.
Knowledge reduces fear.
Step 3: Ensure Medications Are Accessible
Healthcare disruptions create secondary stress — prepare early
Emergencies can interrupt access to pharmacies or providers.
To reduce risk:
Refill prescriptions early when possible
Keep several days’ supply ready
Store medications in an easy-to-grab location
Keep a written list of:
Medication names
Dosages
Prescribing provider
Pharmacy contact information
Place this list in the go bag or secure digital storage.
When the nervous system is activated, clarity disappears. Written instructions bring it back.
Step 4: Create a Master Emergency Contact List
Community is protection
Every family member who is old enough should know where to find this list.
Children may benefit from memorizing one or two important phone numbers.
Include:
Immigration attorney (name + number)
Family members (local and out of state)
Trusted friends
School contacts
Pediatrician / primary care provider
Emergency hotlines
Local community organizations
Keep both a physical and digital version.
Shared access reduces panic.
Step 5: Create a Clear Plan for Children
This is the hardest part — and the most important
This step can feel emotionally overwhelming. Take breaks. Breathe.
Creating a child-centered plan is not imagining separation — it is ensuring protection.
Begin by:
Identifying a trusted adult who can care for children
Speaking directly with them
Confirming their agreement
Providing access to children’s documentation
Share with children (age-appropriately):
Who would pick them up
Where they would go
That they would not be alone
Children regulate through predictability.
Even difficult conversations can build emotional safety when handled gently.
Step 6: Centralize the Information
Confusion increases stress — organization restores calm
All emergency information should live in one clearly identified location.
Options:
A labeled binder in a secure place
A waterproof folder inside the go bag
A secure shared digital folder
A password-protected document accessible by trusted adults
Consistency reduces chaos.
Step 7: Practice the Plan
Rehearsal builds resilience
Walk through:
Who leads in an emergency
“What would happen if…” scenarios
How children would respond
Where items are located
Keep the tone calm and matter-of-fact.
This is not about fear.
It is about preparedness.
Review periodically and adjust as circumstances change.
The Emotional Impact: What Families May Notice
Even with a plan, ICE presence in a community can increase:
Hypervigilance
Sleep disruption
Emotional numbing
Irritability
Fear in children
School avoidance
Trauma reactivation
This is a normal nervous system response to perceived threat.
If you or your children feel overwhelmed, grounding practices can help:
Slow breathing (inhale 4, exhale 6)
Naming five things you see
Gentle movement
Limiting exposure to distressing news
Staying connected to trusted community members
You do not need to handle this alone.
Local Support in Clarksville & Middle Tennessee
Families in Clarksville, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee deserve trauma-informed support that understands both systemic stress and individual resilience.
At Trauma & Therapy Center of Tennessee, we work with individuals and families navigating:
Immigration-related anxiety
Community-based trauma exposure
Chronic stress and hypervigilance
Secondary trauma
Intergenerational fear
We believe preparation and emotional regulation are forms of empowerment.
This post is meant to serve, whether you ever walk through our doors or not.
You Deserve Stability, Even in Unstable Times
If your family feels overwhelmed by uncertainty, you are not weak.
You are responding to real stressors.
Planning is not fear-based.
Planning is strength-based.
And while we hope your safety plan never needs to be used, creating one may bring more calm than you expect.
A Gentle Invitation (If You Need Support)
If the stress surrounding ICE activity is affecting your sleep, your children, or your sense of safety, we are here as confidential trauma specialists in Tennessee.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation.
You are welcome to schedule a free 15-minute consult if you would like support navigating stress, trauma exposure, or family anxiety during this time.
And if not, please use this guide, share it, and know that your preparation matters.
You are not alone in this.