Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation. A single gift, compliment, or mentoring relationship does not prove grooming. Concern grows when multiple behaviors form a pattern that tests boundaries, isolates a child, normalizes sexual content, or punishes disclosure.
This WikiHow-style guide is written for parents, educators, youth workers, organizations, and older teens. It combines immediate safety, careful communication, documentation, professional support, and long-term prevention. It does not ask a survivor or child to prove harm through perfect memory, visible injury, resistance, or a particular emotional reaction.
Safety and scope: This guide is educational and cannot replace emergency services, a child-protection investigation, trauma-informed medical care, or advice from a qualified professional. Reporting duties, school procedures, privacy rules, and legal definitions differ by jurisdiction. If someone is in immediate danger, use the local emergency number and move to a safer place when that can be done without increasing the danger.
Quick Answer
- Understand grooming as a process: Look for stages and patterns rather than one dramatic sign.
- Reject the stranger stereotype: People who groom may be relatives, peers, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, partners, online contacts, or respected community members.
- Notice targeted attention: Repeated special praise, favoritism, exclusive time, emotional intensity, or positioning the child as uniquely mature can create dependence.
- Watch gifts and privileges in context: Gifts, rides, money, game currency, devices, trips, or rule exceptions can create obligation or secrecy.
- Identify secrecy language: Statements such as ‘this is just between us,’ ‘your parents would not understand,’ or ‘we will both get in trouble’ are serious concerns.
- Notice private access seeking: Repeated closed-door meetings, unsupervised transport, sleepovers, private tutoring, changing rooms, isolated online calls, or resistance to supervision need review.
- Recognize boundary testing: Unnecessary touch, tickling after no, intrusive questions, sexual jokes, comments on bodies, sharing adult relationship details, or exposure to sexual media can test response.
- Review communication channels: Private texts, disappearing messages, late-night contact, secret accounts, moving off approved platforms, and requests to delete messages are concerning.
Before You Begin: Use a Safety-First Decision Framework
| Question | Best first response | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Is there immediate danger? | Use emergency or child-protection procedures and move toward safety. | Waiting to collect perfect evidence. |
| Is a child involved? | Use open questions, preserve exact words, and follow reporting duties. | Repeated interviews or confrontation. |
| Is the situation ongoing? | Create interim protections, secure accounts and access, and involve a qualified service. | Relying on a promise that the behavior will stop. |
| Is the person safe now? | Offer choices, medical or emotional support, and a written follow-up plan. | Forcing a report, disclosure, or public statement. |
Part 1: Understand the Situation Without Blame
Step 1: Understand grooming as a process
Look for stages and patterns rather than one dramatic sign. Grooming may target the child, caregivers, peers, or an institution. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: A process view explains why harmful behavior can look ordinary at first. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The concern connects several observable behaviors over time.
Common mistake: Calling one kind act grooming without context.
Step 2: Reject the stranger stereotype
People who groom may be relatives, peers, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, partners, online contacts, or respected community members. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Trust and access are often central to grooming. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Safeguards apply consistently regardless of reputation.
Common mistake: Assuming background checks or status eliminate risk.
Step 3: Notice targeted attention
Repeated special praise, favoritism, exclusive time, emotional intensity, or positioning the child as uniquely mature can create dependence. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Special status can make later boundaries feel like betrayal. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Adults record patterns and compare treatment with policy.
Common mistake: Punishing the child for enjoying attention.
Step 4: Watch gifts and privileges in context
Gifts, rides, money, game currency, devices, trips, or rule exceptions can create obligation or secrecy. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: Material rewards may become leverage. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Organizations require transparency and guardian knowledge.
Common mistake: Assuming all generosity is harmful.
Step 5: Identify secrecy language
Statements such as ‘this is just between us,’ ‘your parents would not understand,’ or ‘we will both get in trouble’ are serious concerns. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Secrecy isolates the child from protection. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Children learn that unsafe secrets must be shared.
Common mistake: Treating every surprise as unsafe rather than distinguishing temporary happy surprises.
Step 6: Notice private access seeking
Repeated closed-door meetings, unsupervised transport, sleepovers, private tutoring, changing rooms, isolated online calls, or resistance to supervision need review. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Access creates opportunity and makes gradual boundary testing easier. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Contact follows observable-space and two-adult rules.
Common mistake: Creating exceptions for high-performing or trusted adults.
Part 2: Create Immediate Safety and a Reliable Record
Step 7: Recognize boundary testing
Unnecessary touch, tickling after no, intrusive questions, sexual jokes, comments on bodies, sharing adult relationship details, or exposure to sexual media can test response. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: Small violations can normalize larger ones. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Adults intervene at the first policy breach.
Common mistake: Waiting for explicit sexual contact.
Step 8: Review communication channels
Private texts, disappearing messages, late-night contact, secret accounts, moving off approved platforms, and requests to delete messages are concerning. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Digital communication can bypass guardians and institutional safeguards. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Youth contact occurs on approved, reviewable channels.
Common mistake: Monitoring secretly without explaining reasonable family rules.
Step 9: Notice isolation from protective adults
A groomer may undermine parents, friends, therapists, teachers, or partners and portray anyone setting limits as jealous or controlling. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Isolation increases dependence and reduces reality checks. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The child maintains multiple trusted relationships.
Common mistake: Responding by isolating the child even further.
Step 10: Watch for gradual sexualization
Sexual jokes, explicit content, conversations about experience, requests for images, comparisons, dares, or normalizing adult-minor relationships can escalate. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: Sexualization can reduce shock and test compliance. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The behavior is reported factually and promptly.
Common mistake: Debating whether the person was only joking.
Step 11: Identify coercion and leverage
Threats to expose images, withdraw affection, harm family, ruin reputation, or punish the child may follow earlier trust-building. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Grooming can shift from affection to control. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The safety plan addresses blackmail and digital evidence.
Common mistake: Telling the child to handle it alone because they participated earlier.
Step 12: Notice changes in the child
Fear, secrecy, withdrawal, new gifts, sexualized behavior, sleep problems, self-harm, school changes, or intense attachment may require assessment. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Children may show distress without a direct disclosure. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Signs are treated as reasons to ask and protect, not proof.
Common mistake: Accusing the child or searching for one perfect symptom.
Part 3: Use Professional, School, Medical, or Legal Support
Step 13: Talk without leading
Describe what you noticed and ask open questions. Let the child use their own words and stop when they need to. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: A calm conversation supports disclosure and preserves accuracy. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The adult records exact words and questions.
Common mistake: Naming the suspected person and act in the first question.
Step 14: Respond supportively to disclosure
Thank the child, state that it is not their fault, and explain the next safety steps. Do not blame them for secrecy, gifts, images, or continued contact. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Grooming is designed to create complicity and shame. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The child hears that adults are responsible for protection.
Common mistake: Asking why the child trusted the person.
Step 15: Preserve digital evidence safely
Save usernames, URLs, dates, messages, payment records, and device details. Do not redistribute illegal sexual images of children. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Digital identifiers can support platform and law-enforcement action. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Original devices and records are protected.
Common mistake: Forwarding exploitative material to family or colleagues.
Step 16: Do not confront or run a sting
Avoid impersonating a child, arranging meetings, hacking, publishing accusations, or trying to obtain a confession. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: Vigilante action can increase danger and damage evidence. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Authorities receive the information without alerting the suspect unnecessarily.
Common mistake: Believing a private sting is the fastest route to proof.
Step 17: Use required reporting channels
Contact child protection, law enforcement, a safeguarding lead, or the legally required authority. Online exploitation may require a specialized reporting center. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Reasonable suspicion is enough for many mandatory reporters. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The report is documented and not left solely to an internal supervisor.
Common mistake: Waiting for organizational approval when the law requires direct reporting.
Step 18: Apply interim safeguards
Remove unsupervised access, change supervision, preserve records, protect siblings and peers, and prevent retaliation while authorities assess. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Safety cannot wait for a final finding. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Measures are proportionate and do not require the child to confront the person.
Common mistake: Treating safeguards as a public declaration of guilt.
Part 4: Build Long-Term Recovery and Prevention
Step 19: Strengthen organizational rules
Use visible spaces, approved transport, guardian access, two-adult practices, codes of conduct, reference checks, reporting training, and enforcement. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: Good systems reduce opportunity and make boundary violations easier to detect. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Rules apply to everyone and exceptions are documented.
Common mistake: Relying only on criminal background screening.
Step 20: Teach children and teens consent and unsafe secrets
Use age-appropriate language about body autonomy, images, pressure, power differences, and trusted adults. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Knowledge supports help-seeking but does not shift prevention responsibility to children. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The child can identify several routes to help.
Common mistake: Using fear-based warnings that suggest every adult is dangerous.
Step 21: Support a child who feels attached to the groomer
Expect love, loyalty, grief, or missing the person. Protection does not require the child to hate them. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Emotional dependence is often part of the grooming process. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Adults validate feelings while maintaining safety.
Common mistake: Interpreting affection as proof that no abuse occurred.
Step 22: Handle peer or youth grooming carefully
Power differences, age gaps, coercion, explicit material, threats, and exploitation can also occur between youth. Protect all children and seek specialized assessment. This step should be carried out with the least amount of pressure necessary and with attention to the person’s age, power differences, privacy, and immediate safety. Keep direct observations separate from interpretation, and do not make promises about an investigation or outcome that you cannot control.
Why this matters: Adult offender labels may be inappropriate for children, but harm still requires action. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: The response combines safety, accountability, and treatment.
Common mistake: Dismissing the behavior as experimentation.
Step 23: Plan for retaliation and reputation pressure
Preserve threats, limit unnecessary disclosure, and support the child when community members defend a popular adult. Put the action into a short written plan: who will do it, when it will happen, what information is needed, and what would show that the risk has decreased. When the issue involves a child, trauma, criminal conduct, or professional reporting duties, transfer the investigation to the qualified authority rather than trying to prove the case yourself.
Why this matters: Groomers may cultivate institutional trust before targeting a child. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Decision-makers focus on conduct and evidence.
Common mistake: Engaging in public online battles that expose the child.
Step 24: Review safeguards after the immediate case
Audit how access was obtained, which warnings were missed, and what policy or culture changes are required. Move deliberately rather than dramatically. Preserve original records, use factual language, and choose a response that protects safety without exposing the person affected to unnecessary questioning, publicity, retaliation, or loss of control. A second trusted adult or professional can help review high-stakes decisions.
Why this matters: Prevention improves when organizations learn beyond one individual case. Grooming is a process in which a person builds access, trust, emotional dependence, secrecy, or authority in order to lower resistance, avoid detection, and create opportunities for sexual abuse or exploitation.
Verification: Changes have owners, deadlines, and independent review.
Common mistake: Treating removal of one person as the complete solution.
A Practical Action Plan
| Stage | Main task |
|---|---|
| Recognize | Identify patterns of access, trust, secrecy, boundary testing, and control. |
| Ask | Speak calmly and openly without suggesting details. |
| Protect | Stop unsafe access and preserve records. |
| Report | Use child-protection, police, platform, and safeguarding channels as required. |
| Prevent | Strengthen adult supervision, communication, transport, and accountability systems. |
Useful Script or Template
Safeguarding report summary: ‘On [dates], I observed [specific actions or words]. The pattern includes [private access / secrecy / gifts / boundary testing / sexualized communication / threats]. I am not making a diagnosis. I am reporting observable conduct and requesting immediate safeguards, preservation of records, and referral through the required protection process.’
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling one kind act grooming without context.
- Assuming background checks or status eliminate risk.
- Punishing the child for enjoying attention.
- Assuming all generosity is harmful.
- Treating every surprise as unsafe rather than distinguishing temporary happy surprises.
- Creating exceptions for high-performing or trusted adults.
- Waiting for explicit sexual contact.
- Monitoring secretly without explaining reasonable family rules.
- Responding by isolating the child even further.
- Debating whether the person was only joking.
- Telling the child to handle it alone because they participated earlier.
- Accusing the child or searching for one perfect symptom.
Writer’s Opinion
The most useful grooming education does two things at once: it avoids reckless accusations based on personality, and it refuses to wait for explicit abuse before enforcing boundaries. Organizations should be able to say, ‘This behavior violates our safety rule’ without first proving a person’s hidden intention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does one gift prove grooming?
No. Concern depends on pattern, secrecy, boundary violations, access, and context. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Can women or teenagers groom children?
Yes. Do not rely on gender or age stereotypes. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Is online grooming different?
The core process is similar, but digital tools can accelerate access, secrecy, image exploitation, and blackmail. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Why might a child defend the person?
The relationship may include affection, rewards, dependence, fear, or shame. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Should I confront the suspected person?
Usually not before safety and reporting advice. Confrontation can increase risk and destroy evidence. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
What should I say to the child?
Thank them, believe them, remove blame, and explain that adults will help keep them safe. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
What if the child sent an image?
Do not blame them. Preserve identifiers without redistributing the image and report through appropriate channels. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Are background checks enough?
No. Many people who cause harm have no known record. Supervision and enforceable boundaries are essential. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Can a respected mentor groom a child?
Yes. Reputation does not replace safeguards. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
What if the concern is uncertain?
Use proportionate safety measures, document facts, and consult the designated safeguarding or protection authority. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
How can organizations prevent grooming?
Reduce private access, make communication reviewable, train adults and youth, and respond consistently to boundary violations. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Can grooming happen to adults?
Yes, especially where there is dependency, power imbalance, coercion, or exploitation, though child safeguarding requires special legal duties. The exact procedure can vary by age, location, institution, and current safety, so use a qualified local professional when the decision carries legal, medical, or child-protection consequences.
Final Checklist
- Understand grooming as a process
- Reject the stranger stereotype
- Notice targeted attention
- Watch gifts and privileges in context
- Identify secrecy language
- Notice private access seeking
- Recognize boundary testing
- Review communication channels
- Notice isolation from protective adults
- Watch for gradual sexualization
- Identify coercion and leverage
- Notice changes in the child
- Talk without leading
- Respond supportively to disclosure
- Preserve digital evidence safely
- Do not confront or run a sting
- Use required reporting channels
- Apply interim safeguards
- Strengthen organizational rules
- Teach children and teens consent and unsafe secrets
- Support a child who feels attached to the groomer
- Handle peer or youth grooming carefully
- Plan for retaliation and reputation pressure
- Review safeguards after the immediate case
Conclusion
Safety, belief, accurate documentation, and respectful professional support matter more than dramatic confrontation. Use the smallest effective step that protects the person, preserves choices, and transfers investigation or treatment to the people qualified to provide it. Healing and prevention are ongoing processes, not a test that a survivor or child must pass.