Welcome to the Jan Broberg Foundation’s (JBF) newsletter.
You are an important part of our movement as we raise awareness, share stories, and support each other in healing and education — all to create happy, healthy childhoods at any, and every, age.
The first week of every month, I’ll share one aspect of grooming — the tool often used by predators to gain private access to their intended victim. By diving deeper, we gain a clearer understanding of what happened and take steps in our own healing journeys. This month’s topic is Trust.
- Week 2: I’ll share journal entries I wrote starting at age nine. You’ll see what I was like then, maybe see yourself in my story, and hopefully notice how both you and I have evolved.
- Week 3: I’ll honor a courageous person in our community who has experienced sexual abuse by sharing their story. We’ll also share updates about my podcast, The Jan Broberg Show.
- Week 4: I’ll share tried and tested tips on stopping abuse — and healing from it.
Every week will include exciting news and exclusive content.
I started the Jan Broberg Foundation with this twofold mission:
- To help stop sexual abuse by teaching about grooming and empowering everyone to protect the innocent instead of the predator. I was abducted and sexually abused by a close family friend, Robert Berchtold, who spent years gaining my family’s trust. Because we were surrounded by good people, we had very limited awareness of those who acted on darker impulses. We want the mistakes we made to help others intervene sooner and prevent predators from gaining access to potential victims.
- To inspire people to heal and move forward. I believe everyone should have a happy childhood — at any age. You matter to me, and I want you to matter to yourself. Healing is one of my highest priorities. I am living proof that it’s possible to thrive, not just survive. I call those of us who’ve endured unspeakable things and come out whole thrivivors. I became a thrivivor because others made me a priority — my parents, family, friends, and community. Now I am paying it forward through this foundation, which exists to support you and millions like you as you heal.
Trust me, you can heal. You can thrive. And you can get the support you need.
I see myself in you, and we all can see ourselves in others’ stories.
When I meet someone who has experienced abuse, I quickly realize I’ve found another kindred spirit. We “get” each other when no one else does. I yearn for you to know that regardless of what you’ve endured or how much you’ve been supported, believed, or heard, you are valuable.
You have things to do, things to create, lives to impact. We at the Jan Broberg Foundation are here to walk alongside you as you move forward.
This Month’s Topic: How predators gain trust through grooming.
We all need to trust. Trust is fundamental to our development. As infants, our survival depends on caregivers who feed us, comfort us, and respond to our needs. When trust is honored, we thrive.
But if trust is broken early, we may learn to seek out love or safety in unsafe places. Predators exploit this. They groom by identifying vulnerabilities and gaining trust until they have private access to their intended victim. Often, the danger signs are hidden because the predator seems so “nice.”
Robert Berchtold groomed me and my family for years, giving him almost unlimited access to me.
No matter what, it’s not your fault.
Even those with loving caregivers can be duped by predators. Trusting the wrong person is never the victim’s fault. The only person responsible is the predator.