Timothy Kopet, Ph.D March 2, 2011 Portland, Oregon

1. Fire Safety AcademyStrategies & Techniques for Working with Children and Parents in Firesetting Intervention Timothy Kopet, Ph.D March 2, 2011 Portland, Oregon

2. Fire Safe Children and Families • Fire Safety Academy • Ages 6-12 • Safety Program • Ages 12-17 • Assessment • Screening • Misuse of Fire Assessment

3. 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.

4. Parent Awareness • ..\Parenting Piece.VOB

5. 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.

6. How Often Do Juveniles Play With Fire? • 47 % grades 3-8 in OR. • 45% K-8 in CA. • 38% % grades 1-8 in PA.

7. 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

8. “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

9. Kolko (2001)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. General Program Guidelines Personnel • Coordinator • Family Involvement • Facilitators • Fire Personnel

14. General Guidelines (Continued) • Family Involvement • Screening • Age Appropriateness • Siblings/ additional attendees • Group Dynamics • Parent Groups

15. Spanish Speakers • Spanish speaking facilitator vs. translator

16. 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.

17. Materials and Supplies • Youth Files • Parent Folders • Videos • Handouts • Snacks • Poster Paper • High Five/ Certificates

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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.

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

23. 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

24. 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?

25. 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

26. 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

27. Hazard House

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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.

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

33. Thank You • Questions?: Timothy Kopet, Ph.D. Psychologist with Portland Public Schools tkopet2@pps.k12.or.us 503 916-6336