Despite growing awareness of human trafficking, many prevention efforts fail to equip caregivers, educators, and professionals with practical tools to identify and interrupt grooming and exploitation before harm occurs. This gap leaves youth vulnerable to manipulation, coercion, and relationship-based exploitation. Cerise Woodard, a forensic nurse and human trafficking educator, presents a trauma-informed prevention framework designed to help professionals recognize early warning signs and respond effectively. Drawing from clinical experience, advocacy work, and her lived experience as a survivor of interpersonal trauma–which informs her approach to recognizing grooming dynamics and engaging individuals in a trauma-informed, non-shaming manner– this session bridges prevention and early intervention by equipping participants with actionable strategies. The presentation explores key vulnerabilities that increase risk for exploitation, including emotional isolation, unmet relational needs, and normalized unhealthy relationship dynamics. Participants will examine how grooming behaviors often present subtly and are frequently misinterpreted as typical adolescent development. Woodard introduces structured communication strategies and prevention frameworks that support early intervention, including how to engage youth in conversations about boundaries, manipulation, and safety without increasing shame or resistance. The session also highlights the role of healthcare providers, educators, and community members in identifying risk and responding appropriately when concerns arise. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how exploitation develops over time and will be equipped with concrete tools to disrupt that process. This presentation emphasizes prevention as a critical component of anti-trafficking efforts and calls professionals to move from awareness to intentional, informed action.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Cerise Woodard is a forensic nurse, speaker, and advocate specializing in human trafficking prevention and victim response. Drawing from clinical practice and community education, she equips professionals with trauma-informed strategies to recognize risk, disrupt exploitation, and support vulnerable populations through prevention-focused frameworks and multidisciplinary collaboration.