THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY JUVENILE FIRESETTER PROGRAM (SVJFP) provides a coordinated effort in helping juvenile firesetters and their families receive the help they need through education, diversion, assessment, and psychological services in cooperation with the Fire Fighters Burn Institute as a non-profit (501c3) organization.

The services of the Sacramento Valley Juvenile Firesetter Program are available* to families living in Sacramento County; and some areas of Nevada, Yuba, Placer, and Yolo Counties. (see “Partners” tab to see if your Fire Department is a member of this coalition.) If you live in the Sacramento Valley but you do not see your local Fire Department listed on the “Partners” Page, the please contact your Fire Department directly and see what service they offer for your child (Juvenile Firesetter intervention will vary per department outside of this coalition.)

The firesetter program has five levels of participation known as – family responsibility steps. Depending on your childs situation, some steps may not apply.

Assessment
A family interview and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Assessment at a location designated by the fire department or will take place at the home/living environment of the child who has exhibited fire setting/play activity. As many family members as possible are recommended to attend.

Diversion
If your child has been issued a citation by a fire agency or in lieu of a citation, you may be allowed to enter a process by which the citation can be dismissed or not issued. This step must occur at the time the citation is to be issued, and is initiated by the fire investigator. For diversion, a criminal background check will occur under the juvenile’s name. A parent or legal guardian and the child must attend a diversion hearing (held at fire district offices), and the child will be asked to describe behaviors and answer questions that show there is a low risk to your child repeating his/her offense. If applicable, the parent or legal guardian and child will sign a contract in which specific actions will be required to continue with the juvenile firesetter program. When those actions are completed, as per the contract, the fire agency will dismiss the citation and/or it will not be processed.

Educational Intervention
Families attend a three-session fire safety academy. It is recommended that all family members attend the academy. The academy is conducted five times a year and child/family placement is subject to availability. The Academy is broken into age appropriate classes for the juveniles, while the parents are attending informational training seminars.

The SVJFP Fire Safety Academy provides many educational tools as well as presents guest speakers from the following departments and agencies:
Various Fire Agencies
Probation
UC Davis Burn Center/Survivors
Mental Health

Counseling
If the final score from the assessment falls within certain parameters, family counseling will be recommended by the fire agency. If a child/family has been referred to counseling, it is strongly recommended that the counseling occur con-currently to the academy. If the child is already in counseling, the child should continue counseling and the parent should advise the mental health provider that the child has a history with firesetting. Notify the counselor that the child was FEMA assessed and it is the fire agency recommendation that counseling be conducted that would address the child’s firesetting issue. Also, notify the mental health professional that it has been determined that the child is at risk for future firesetting. If more than a year has gone by since the original assessment, a second assessment must take place before the family attends the academy. An informative resource list will be provided to these families. This list will be a compilation of local organizations and resources that are equipped to meet this mental health requirement.

Information regarding your family’s ability to pay or insurance medical benefits information may need to be produced to determine if there will be any cost for counseling services provided by the firesetter program.

Behavioral Update
After completing the fire safety academy and/or counseling, the firesetter program may contact the adults in your home by mail or phone to determine the status of your child’s behavior in regards to the following:

1. Occurrences of firesetting
2. School work
3. Family communication
4. Activities with peers

5. Whether your home environment shows a reduced risk in your child obtaining instruments used for firesetting.