|
Juvenile Firesetter Program
Fires reported by U.S.
Fire Departments show that children playing with fires started 41,900 fires,
caused an estimated 150 civilian deaths, 1,900 civilian injuries, and $272
million in direct property damage. The crime of arson has the highest rate of juvenile involvement, they account for at least half of those
arrested for arson
The Tempe Juvenile Firesetter Program has been
established to help reduce the number of fires started by juveniles within our
community. The program is designed to assist parents and
their child in understanding the dangers of playing with fire, how to prevent
repeat behavior and other consequences of their firesetting behavior.
Request for services can be made by the parents or legal guardian
of the child, referral by School Officials, Fire Investigator or by Juvenile Justice.
Who are these firesetter?
A firesetter is any child under the age
of 18 who sets a fire, either on intentionally or unintentionally.
Why do they set fire?
Children set fires for many reasons:
How does our program work?
Interviews will be conducted to determine
whether the firesetting behavior was accidental, curiosity or symptomatic of deeper
problems. Educational intervention will be utilized for the accidental and curiosity
firesetter. When firesetting behavior is determined to be indicative of more serious
problems, educational intervention and referral to specialized Social Services agencies
is be recommended.
The Tempe Fire Department Juvenile Firesetter
Program is a multi-level approach to the education and/or treatment of identified juvenile
involved in firesetting behavior. The program is adaptable for preschool ages
through teens. Participation is voluntary except for those referred by the Juvenile
authorities. The program consists of five parts, each phase has a unique role in the
process, yet all are interconnected. The five parts are; identification, education,
assessment, referral and follow-up. Parents
or legal Guardians are required to participate in the program.
Identification
Identification is what brings the child to our
attention, that may be accomplished in a number of ways. A child is found to be
involved in firesetting behavior by a a parent, a child who has experienced an
inappropriate incident with fire and the fire department is involved. If a child has
been linked to a fire incident through investigation they may also be referred to the
program by the Juvenile Court. Referrals can also come for school officials.
Education
Regardless of the reason for a child setting a
fire, education is the key to changing firesetting behaviors. Education involves providing the
family with the information they need to prevent future mishaps with fire.
Parents
must be as much a part of the process as the child, since we can not expect the child to
use fire in an appropriate manner, when his/her primary role models (parents) may be
demonstrating the incorrect method several times a day. The parents may need as
much, or more education than the child.
Many firesetters know how to stop, drop and
roll, crawl low under smoke, feel the door, test their smoke detector, make an escape
plan, and many other survival skills. But survival skills emphasize what to do after
a fire has occurred. Firesetting intervention should emphasize how to avoid the
inappropriate use of fire to prevent an incident from every occurring.
Assessment
Initial contact can simply be
a phone call from
the parent requesting assistance with a juvenile or a Fire Investigator will attempt to contact
the parent when information is obtained regarding a suspected firesetter. At this
time the parent is interviewed to gain background information on the child and family
history.
The parents are asked to bring the child into
the Fire Prevention Office. The program requires that the parents
commit to two
appointments within a two-three week period.
During the first visit the interviewer will
need to determine if education is the proper intervention
method to solving the problem or is additional
help to the family needed. If there are problems that fire safety alone can not
solve, then appropriate help must be found for the family through a referral agency.
Referral
Identifying the issues that
led the child to firesetting and then determining the proper course of action
for resolving the child's fire setting behaviors. These resources may be in the form of mental
health intervention, parenting classes, juvenile justice, or other appropriate services.
Follow-up
No program can be successful without
evaluation. Follow-up means evaluating the success rates as well as looking at
client satisfaction and additional client needs.
Success can be measured by the
rate of recurrence (recidivism) of fire setting behavior. The non
recurrence of firesetting behavior, which usually indicates a good change in
behavior, can determine the success of the intervention.
Evaluating the quality of the intervention is
also important. What worked well and what did not work are two very important
questions. Only the client can answer these questions. Information gathered
during the follow-up phase is vital for directing fadditional
intervention.
How do I refer a child to the program?
Parents/Caregivers/School Officials:
Contact the Tempe Fire Department as soon after the fire incident as possible.
The telephone number is (480) 858-7230 and ask for the Education Specialist.
Last Updated
03/04/08
| 
