Fire Safety AcademyStrategies & Techniques for Working with Children and Parents in Firesetting Intervention

Timothy Kopet, Ph.D

March 2, 2011

Portland, Oregon

Fire Safe Children and Families

Fire Safety Academy Ages 6-12

Safety Program Ages 12-17

Assessment Screening Misuse of Fire Assessment

Parent Awareness DVD

Introduction This is a compilation of real video clips

uploaded to YouTube. One effect of increasing technology in our

society is that our kids have access and exposure to things they likely didn’t have in previous generations.

Over the past few years alone, the number of video clips uploaded to YouTube has increased exponentially.

Parent Awareness

..\Parenting Piece.VOB

Is Juvenile Arson a Problem? Fifty-four percent of all arson arrests in the U.S. are children under 18. Arrests of juveniles for the crime of arson were higher, proportionally,

than for any other crime. Juveniles account for more than half of the arson arrests, with one-third

of those children under the age of 15, and nearly four percent under age ten.

There were an estimated 13,900 child-play structure fires reported in 2002, with 210 deaths, 1,250 injuries, and $339 million in direct damage.

For fires coded as child play and not intentional, 84 percent involved firesetters under he age of 10.

The average cost of a juvenile-set structure fire exceeded $20,000. Intentional fires ranked first among the major causes in structure fire

dollar loss between 1999 and 2002.

How Often Do Juveniles Play With Fire?

47 % grades 3-8 in OR.

45% K-8 in CA.

38% % grades 1-8 in PA.

Prevalence of juvenile firesetters world-wide:

51-62% grades 4-8 in Surrey, B.C.

11% teens in NZ

29% of 11-18 year old European adolescents

“It is just a phase, and BTW, I played with fire when I was a kid”! No Tolerance Society More people, more risk of harm Perception that life is more dangerous Parent concerns about having to pay for

damages I don’t want to stigmatize the kid

Kolko (2001)

FireSafe Children and Families Recidivism Study December 2006-June 2008 123 youth between 6 and 17 years old 7 did not complete the program Utilized Juvenile Justice Database on:

Any kind of re-offense Any kind of fire re-offense

FSC&FRecidivism Study 6 month Follow-Up (125 youth)

1 youth re-offended with fire (0.8%) ** 18 youth were referred on non-fire offenses

(14%) 85% had no charges in the following 6 months

1 year Follow-Up (115 youth) 2 youth re-offended with fire (1.7%) 20 youth were referred on non-fire offenses

(19%) 81% had no charges after 1 year

FSC&FRecidivism Study What happened to the seven who didn’t

complete the program? 2 out of the seven were re-referred for a non-

fire offense (29%) 1 out of the seven was re-referred for a fire

related offense (14%) 57% had no charges

General Program Guidelines

Personnel Coordinator Family Involvement Facilitators Fire Personnel

General Guidelines (Continued)

Family Involvement Screening Age Appropriateness Siblings/ additional attendees Group Dynamics Parent Groups

Spanish Speakers

Spanish speaking facilitator vs. translator

Fire Safety Academy

Ages 6-12 6 sessions of 1 ½ hours, Facilitators

2 facilitators and 1 fire educator Must be screened prior to participation We re-tooled the last revision to use the

parents in a more collaborative role.

Materials and Supplies

Youth Files Parent Folders Videos Handouts Snacks Poster Paper High Five/ Certificates

Getting Started: Lesson 1

Introductions, expectations, roles Pretests Parents view Parent Awareness Discuss the Young Brain Youth view Prepare, Practice, Prevent Hear First Fire Story Greg’s Story Homework

Lesson 2. Safe and UnSafe Fire: Home Escape Plan

View “Home Fire Drills” Assist Parent and Child

Develop Home Escape Plan Have them do a home

fire drill Review what children

are learning Tools vs. Toys; History

of Fire Tips for a Fire Safe

Family

12 Common Motives

1. Fire was an accident. 2. Child was pressured or encouraged by

peers. 3. Child was curious about and experimenting

with fire. 4. Fire was seen as fun or positive. 5. To increase child’s self-confidence or feeling

of power. 6. Fire occurred after the child was told not to

play with matches or fire.

12 Common Motives (Continued)

7. To get help or seek attention 8. To do harm or to destroy something. 9. Fire occurred after child became angry at

someone/something. 10. Fire followed a family argument/conflict. 11. Fire followed a school problem. 12. Fire followed a peer problem.

Reference: Kolko, D.J. & Kadin, A.E. (1991). Motives of childhood firesetters: Firesetting characteristics and psychological correlates. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 32, 535-550.

Explaining Fire Safety Rules with Children Supervision Media Modeling Teach Good Decision Making Make Clear Rules Take Care of Yourself

Lesson 3. Emotions, Coping Skills, Understanding Behavior

View “In Their Own Words” Review with adults about what youth are

learning about feelings and coping skills. Learn Understanding Behavior Model Discuss Home Interventions

Understanding Behavior

Behavior (What did the child do?) Trigger (Was there a trigger to the

behavior?) Reward (Was there some kind of reward?) What skills do they need to learn so they

don’t do this again? What changes in the environment are

needed so they won’t do this again?

Lesson 4. Responsibility and Consequences

View “Brian’s Story” Parent Responsibility Booklet and the Law

Available for free download at:

http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/JFSI_Home.shtml#Resources_for_Public

Behavioral Contracts Effective Rewards and Consequences

Lesson 5. Hazard House, Fire Extinguishers, & Basic Fire Safety

View “Fire Power” or “Flashover” View Hazard House Presentation with Child Fire Safety Presentation for Adults Have Parent and Child view at home

“Plan to Get Out Alive” video

Hazard House

Lesson 6. Graduation

Feedback about services (focus group)

Post-tests and rating forms

Have Children Present their Fire Safety Projects

Parents and Children Take Oath

High Five Game

High Five Game

Two levels of play Good individually and with groups or families Available for free download at:

http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/JFSI_Home.shtml#Resources_for_Public

Things that Work

Multiple Sessions Combination of Fire Safety and Skill

Development Using Parents as the Experts About their Child Follow up for No-Shows In Group, have time for discussion and support

for each other, minimize lecture Ask for feedback about whether their child is

getting it.

Lessons Learned

Be watchful for children who are aroused by firesetting discussions or materials.

Don’t use real lighters and matches. Don’t give instructions about how to set fires. One kid may leave the room at a time. Plan to spend time debriefing classes with the

other instructors. Keep a file of optional activities. Plan B if videotape doesn’t work. Use tiles, games, competitions.

Videos

Parent Awareness DVD Prepare, Practice, Prevent Brian’s Story Look Hot, Stay Cool Fire Power In Their Own Words

Thank You

Questions?:

Timothy Kopet, Ph.D.

Psychologist with Portland Public Schools

tkopet2@pps.k12.or.us

503 916-6336