Youth Firesetting Support Guide a Resource for Parents and Practitioners Concerned About Fire Risk Behaviour in a Child Or Young Person
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Youth Firesetting Support Guide A resource for parents and practitioners concerned about fire risk behaviour in a child or young person. Introduction to THIS ReSOurce YOuTH FIReSetting Support guIDe: TABLE OF CONTENTS nAvIgation AnD Information Description of the tool .......................................................................... 3 Caregiver Information........................................................................... 5 Description of this tool and other services Understanding fire risk behaviour ..........................................................6 As a caregiver, what can I do? ................................................................8 Caregiver Information Information for Allied Health Workers ................................................ 11 Department of Human Services .......................................................... 21 understanding fire risk behaviour Fire‑related offences and legal consequences ..................................... 24 As a caregiver, what can I do? Consequences of burns ....................................................................... 25 Youth Justice ...................................................................................... 26 The young person is a client of DHS (Youth Justice, Child Sentencing Order Hierarchy ................................................................ 33 Protection and/or Disability Services) The Adolescent Forensic Health Service (AFHS) .................................. 36 Youth Justice Mental Health Initiative ................................................. 39 More information about DHS Child Protection .................................................................................. 43 Child FIRST ......................................................................................... 46 Are you involved or seeking services (not DHS) Take Two ............................................................................................ 48 DHS Disability ..................................................................................... 50 Are you concerned about other problems (not fire risk Office of the Senior Practitioner ......................................................... 53 behaviours, e.g. behaviour problems) and seeking assistance Behaviour Support Services (BSS) ....................................................... 54 or information? Registered Disability ........................................................................... 56 Disability Forensic Assessment & Treatment Service (DFATS) .............. 57 Child & Youth Public Mental Health Forensicare – Community Forensic Mental Health Service (CFMHS) .... 60 Youth, parent and family other support services Child and Youth Public Mental Health ................................................. 63 Helplines Youth Support Service (YSS) ................................................................ 68 Juvenile Fire Awareness and Intervention Program (JFAIP) ................. 70 Other services Youth, parent and family other support services ................................. 72 Supplementary Information ............................................................... 78 Youth Firesetting suPPort guide – PrActitioner Press Alt-Left Arrow to return to previous location 2 Introduction TO THIS ReSOurce De SCRIPTIOn OF THe TOOl W HAT is this tool? Services for families can be difficult to understand. For some services, certain criteria are required to This tool will provide you with information about: gain entry to that service. If you do read information ` fire risk behaviours about a service, please ensure that you also read the ` services that can help eligibility criteria provided in each section. ` fire-related charges This document contains a large number of highlighted ` consequences of burns. links. After following a link, you can return to the previous location by pressing Alt-Left Arrow. Who is it for? This resource is for practitioners and caregivers who are concerned about a young person’s fire risk behaviour. How can it help? You are here because you are concerned about your child’s fire risk behaviours or you are a practitioner who is working with a family that is concerned about this problem. This tool may help you understand fire risk behaviours and direct you to services that can help. Youth Firesetting suPPort guide – PrActitioner Press Alt-Left Arrow to return to previous location 3 IFO Y u lIve In A BuSHFIRe Prone AReA, FIReSetting In THe COMMunITY PleASe ReAD THIS Information About 50% of Bushfires are believed to be deliberately or recklessly lit. Bushfire arson has a devastating impact on the community. If you suspect that a fire has been deliberately lit, please click here for information. You can also call crime stoppers on 1800 333 000. Your report will remain confidential. Youth Firesetting suPPort guide – PrActitioner Press Alt-Left Arrow to return to previous location 4 CARegIveR Information CARegIveR Information In FORMATIOn FOR PARenTS, guARDIAnS AnD CAReRS You are here because you are concerned about a child’s fire risk behaviour. If you are involved with a service (such as DHS or child youth public mental health service) then discuss this issue with your case worker or allied health professional. If you are concerned about the child’s wellbeing please refer to the information on Child FIRST and contact Child FIRST Intake. Is your child showing an interest in fire? Many people have an interest in fire and they do not intend to harm or cause damage. Misuse of fire can be very dangerous and any fire can easily get out of control. If this happens, young children are not likely to have the skills to put it out. Youth Firesetting suPPort guide – PrActitioner Press Alt-Left Arrow to return to previous location 5 CARegIveR Information u nDeRSTAnDIng FIRe RISk BeHAviouR Firesetting It is common for young people to be interested in fire, Firesetting is when a child misuses fire repeatedly. and if left unchecked, this can progress to fire risk Some behaviour can include searching for materials, behaviour. deliberately damaging or destroying property and using flammable materials to make the fire bigger. Fire interest If your child is firesetting you may need to call an Very young children will be interested in the colour and allied health professional or your case worker. movement of the flame. They often show interest by asking a lot of questions about fire and expressing fire What are the signs of fire risk behaviour? themes in play (pretending to be a firefighter). Some of the signs that a young person is misusing fire Strong interest in fire may lead to fireplay or are: firesetting. ` Matches and lighters are disappearing It is important to take notice of your child’s interest in ` Matches and lighters are found in the child’s fire and the Juvenile Fire Awareness and Intervention belongings Program (JFAIP) may be able to assist. Call JFAIP on ` You discover burnt matches or paper 1300 309 988. ` There are burn marks on toys, carpet or household Fireplay items ` The child is showing a lot of interest in fire (asking a Fireplay can include experimenting with fire to see lot of questions). what fire can do. The child often finds ignition sources (matches and lighters) in the home and they may light available materials (eg. papers and twigs). Youth Firesetting suPPort guide – PrActitioner Press Alt-Left Arrow to return to previous location 6 CARegIveR Information Why do young people set fires? Young people may continue to light fires repeatedly Young people often cannot give you a reason for their because: misuse of fire; they may deny or blame someone else. ` They have not been caught for a long time and there- Common reasons young people provide for misusing fire fore they continue to do this are: ` There has not been any consequences ` Boredom ` They get something out of it (rewarded by attention ` To see what would happen (curious) or from peers or family) ` For fun/amusement. ` They have easy access to matches and lighters and are not being supervised — these are two things that More serious reasons for childrens’ misuse of fire that caregivers can control. may not be as obvious: ` To get attention ` Peer pressure ` Because they are angry or frustrated and find it diffi- cult to communicate this ` To get power over a situation (eg. revenge). If you suspect more serious reasons for a young person’s firesetting you may need to contact an allied health professional or your case worker. Youth Firesetting suPPort guide – PrActitioner Press Alt-Left Arrow to return to previous location 7 CARegIveR Information When firesetting may be a deeper problem AgS A care IveR, what can I do? Some signs that your child or teenagers’ firesetting is a Caregivers have an important role in guiding their child problem are: towards fire safety and a JFAIP practitioner may be able ` Lighting fires or a strong interest in fire at a very early to assist. Being concerned and teaching your child to be age (eg. 2 or 3 years old) safe with fire is just as important as teaching your child ` Teenager firesetting can indicate emotional or psycho- to cross the road safely. logical issues What to do if you see signs of fire risk behaviour: ` Setting fires to many and a variety of objects (eg. ` Pay attention lighting papers and toys and twigs and bedding), ` Do not assume it is just curiosity and something your ` Setting fires in many different places (eg. lighting fires child will grow out of in the home, the backyard, the park and the school) or `