Note: The above video shows the top headlines from the morning of September 29, 2025.

LUBBOCK, Texas-Grooming is an uncomfortable subject, but a critical subject that parents, caregivers and communities cannot afford to ignore. It is one of the most common tools used by traffickers and abusers to exploit children, and raising awareness is the first step to prevention.

Mary Duenes, Chief Program Officer for Voice of Hope, explained to EverythingLubbock.com that grooming is not a single act but rather a process designed to build trust, create dependency and ultimately prepare a child for abuse or exploitation.

What is Grooming?

"Grooming is a tool and the method that we see an abuser use and start to build trust with a child or youth," Duenes said. "They make promises and build trust and

See Full Page