Behind The Smile
Grooming Prevention Training is here.
Behind The Smile isn’t just another training it’s a revelation. Through real-life scenarios and expert insight, this course pulls back the curtain on how grooming really works how trust is built, boundaries are tested, and silence is kept. You’ll see what others miss, understand what survivors wish every adult knew, and walk away equipped to stop abuse before it ever begins.
What People Are Saying About 'Behind The Smile'
“This training is life-changing.” - Amanda Briggs, MPA, BCC
“I love the way it is written because this is the way it happens in real life.” - Dr. Cynthia Hatch (trauma therapist)
What You’ll Gain
By completing this training, you will gain a deeper understanding of how grooming and abuse occur and how they can be prevented. You’ll build confidence in recognizing warning signs, responding appropriately to concerns or disclosures, and creating safer environments for children. Most importantly, you’ll leave equipped with practical tools and clarity to take meaningful, protective action in your home, organization, or community.
Module 1: Understanding Offenders & Grooming Foundations
This module explores how child sexual abuse actually occurs by examining offender mindsets, common offender profiles, and grooming tactics. You’ll learn Finkelhor’s Precondition Model and how abuse can be interrupted before it begins. You will also understand why prevention is possible when patterns are understood.
Module 2: The Stages of Grooming
Grooming is a deliberate process used by offenders to gain access to, trust from, and control over a child—often involving caregivers and trusted adults along the way. It is a common method used to facilitate child sexual abuse, online exploitation, trafficking, and abuse within homes, schools, churches, and other child-serving environments.
This module breaks down the stages of grooming used to establish access, build trust, and maintain silence. You’ll learn how grooming behaviors escalate over time, how early warning signs can be recognized, and how these patterns appear across different offender profiles—both in-person and online. (coming in late January)
Module 3: Barriers to Disclosure
Many children want to tell—but don’t. This module explores why disclosure is so difficult and how adult responses can either increase safety or cause harm. You’ll learn how to respond appropriately to disclosures or retractions while reducing trauma and supporting a child’s well-being.(coming in late January)
Module 4: Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Preserving Responses
How adults respond matters. This module teaches trauma-informed responses that prioritize child safety while preserving evidence. You’ll learn what to say, what not to say, and how to respond calmly and responsibly when concerns or disclosures arise.
(coming in late January)
Module 5: Becoming a Safe Adult & Strengthening Protective Systems
Prevention requires more than awareness—it requires action. This module focuses on becoming a Safe Adult by strengthening boundaries, policies, supervision, and accountability. You’ll learn how individual actions and organizational systems work together to reduce risk and protect children. (coming in late January)
Each Behind the Smile® module is available individually for $49, allowing you to focus on the topics most relevant to your role or situation. For those who want a complete understanding of grooming prevention and child protection, the full course is available for $197, offering meaningful savings compared to purchasing modules separately.
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We believe cost should never be a barrier to protecting children. Discounts are available for parents, groups, churches, schools, and organizations, and we are committed to working with communities to make this training accessible.
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Every purchase supports prevention, education, and safer environments for children—because protecting kids matters more than budgets.