Red Flags: Train: Grooming: Identifying the Early Signs of Grooming

You work in a local salon. You've been doing a lot of fancy hairstyles lately. It's prom season. Your next client is someone you've haven't seen before. She's young and pretty. You ask if she's getting a cut or a style. She looks over to an older man and waits for him to answer. He tells you to do something fancy, to make his girl look pretty. She smiles brightly and follows you. As you style her hair, he sits down at the next station and watches her. As you talk, he answers your questions. Afterward, she shows him and waits to see if he approves. He pays and they leave.

Drew went through some tough stuff when he was younger. He was hanging out with the wrong crowd and got busted with drugs. He's with a solid foster family and seemed to be doing better. This was going to be his last month on probation but he had a dirty UI. His foster parents are concerned. His attitude in general is different. You try to talk to him about what's going on but he tells you everything is OK. You notice that he has a new cell phone and shoes. When you admire them, he tells you that a new friend is hooking him up.

You are eating lunch in the teacher's lounge. The drama teacher tells you that Victoria, who was cast in the big role for the upcoming play, dropped out. Victoria is in your 3rd period English class. During class you notice that she's talking with Jackie, someone you didn't think she had ever really hung out with before. When you walk over to them, you hear the word "boyfriend." When they realize you're there, they stop talking and pretend to be busy. You ask Victoria about the play. She looks down and mumbles something about not liking drama anyways.