CUT IT OUT virtual training teaches salon professions to recognize signs of abuse

Local hair stylists and salons are taking a stand this National domestic Violence Awareness Month.

New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers partnered with local professionals for CUT IT OUT: The Beauty Community Against Domestic Abuse virtual training session.

The training was designed to help raise awareness of the nationwide epidemic of domestic violence and train salon professionals to recognize the signs and confidentially refer clients, co-workers, friends, and family to resources for help.

Roseann Northwood is a community-focused resource advocate for New Horizons La Crosse Outreach Center. She became a CUT IT OUT trainer for the local installment of this program.

“Those stylists and salon professionals are in a unique position,” she said. “They might notice bruises or cuts, maybe where hair has been pulled out. Some other signs that might suggest that there are problems at home and they’re just not themselves include self-blame, sudden lifestyle changes, your regular appointments change, maybe they get lots of calls and texts from their partner. You just notice something that’s different and it can be for all kinds of reasons, but this program will help you to recognize and also be able to converse with and then refer if it is indeed domestic violence.”

She said part of the training is how to use discrete and empathetic techniques and make appropriate referrals to professional safety resources.

The pandemic may be adding addition strain to victims if their absuers are spending more time at home.

“It is really difficult to reach out to an advocate, and you have to do that safely,” Northwood said. “People need to be creative and they need to stay safe.”

One of her suggestions is for victims to reach out for assistance while scrolling through Facebook to avoid exhibiting any unusual behavior.

For more information on this training event or to RSVP, people can contact: Resource Advocate-Community Focused at [email protected] or 608-791-2610 ext. 1309.

For information on CUT IT OUT: The Beauty Community Against Domestic Abuse, visit
probeauty.org/cutitout or contact Rachel Molepske at [email protected] or 480.455.3453
(800.468.2274. ext. 3453).

The Beauty Community Against Domestic Abuse is a program of the PBA Foundation. CUT IT OUT is dedicated to mobilizing salon professionals and others to fight the epidemic of domestic abuse in communities across the U.S. by building awareness and training salon professionals to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients, colleagues, friends, and family to local resources.

New Horizons provides shelter and services to a seven-county (population 238,236) area in Wisconsin
and Minnesota. New Horizons Shelter is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to
provide emergency shelter and food to victims of domestic violence and their children.

In addition to providing the essentials of food and shelter to ensure the physical safety of individuals
and families who have experienced abuse, New Horizons conducts various programs and services, all
of which are confidential and complimentary.