How can I help start a juvenile firesetting intervention program in my community?
This is a challenging task if no previous efforts are in place, but statistics show that firesetting intervention programs do work to treat and prevent juvenile firesetting. A good starting point is to begin a local discussion between fire service, mental health, burn care, school and juvenile justice professionals. The juvenile firesetting community is ever-growing and there could very well be trainings, conferences, or other opportunities close by. Check out MatchBook’s Community Calendar for more information. The structure of the program will depend on the available community resources, however a means of identifying kids who have set fires, is typically the best way to begin. This can be accomplished though fire responses, the right questions being asked upon entry to other programs or a system of recommendations. Intake is a formal process to enter a child into a program. The process therein ensures the youth will not be lost in the process or slip through the cracks. A formal int
