A Multidimensional Approach to Assessing and

Treating Juvenile Fire Setters and Bomb Makers

Dr. Ronn Johnson, Ph.D., ABPPBerenis Gonzalez, M.A. Candidate

J.Y. Cindy Kim, Ph.D. StudentMichelle Jimenez, M.A. Candidate Christine Collins, Psy.D. Student

Yasmin Saadatzadeh, M.A. CandidateOMICS Atlanta 2015

University of San DiegoUniversity of Iowa

Alliant International University

Overview

◉Juvenile Fire Setters and Bomb Makers (JFSB)

◉Juvenile Fire Setting and Bomb Making:

Cases

◉Assessments

◉Treatments and Interventions

◉A Multidimensional Approach: Implications

282,600(Campbell, 2014a)

Juvenile Fire Setters and Bomb Makers

An Intentional fire refers to the “deliberate misuse of heat source or a fire of an incendiary

nature” (p. 6, Campbell, 2014a; U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting Systems [NFIRS],

2014)

Fireplay damages are viewed as “col lateral and without a destructive motive”

(p.9, Slavkin, 2004)

(Arson Prevention Bureau, 2006; Campbell, 2014a; Hall, 2005; MacKay et al., 2012; U.S. Fire Administration, 2012;2013)

Annual 420

Deaths

1.3 Billion in Property Damage

Annual 1,360 Injuries

Between 2007-2011:

Annual 80

Deaths235 Million in Property Damage

Annual 860

Injuries

49,300

Between 2007-2011:

(Arson Prevention Bureau, 2006; Campbell, 2014b; Hall, 2005; MacKay et al., 2012; U.S. Fire Administration, 2012;2013)

Juvenile Fire Setters and Bomb Makers: Cases

JFSB: Cases

◉Accidental FiresettingScience Fair: Rockets

◉Intentional FiresettingLighter in the Closet

◉Social PressureWorks Bombs

JFSB: Cases

◉Delinquent FiresettingFlaming BMW

◉Mental Health-Related FiresettingVisual Stimulation

◉Curious FiresettingLighter from the Porch

Assessments

Assessments: Referral Sources

Juvenile Justice System

ParentsSchool

Districts

Law Enforcement

FireDepartment

Hospital

Qualified Mental Health

Providers(Kennedy et al., 2006; Sparber, 2005; Spruill et al., 2004)

Assessments

◉Multi-agency involvement

lack of collaboration

◉Building partnerships

(Kapp et al., 2013;)

Assessments: Referral Question

◉Referral question Gathering appropriate collateral information

documents/reports

key informants

Clinical skills

( Achenbach 2000; Brenner 2003; Johnson et al., 2014; Sparta et al., 2006; Tiffin et al., 2004)

Assessments

◉JFSB AssessmentsChild psychopathology

Social/emotional regulation

Family functioning

Fire setting behavior

(Barreto et al., 2004; Gilman et al., 2006; Johnson et al., 2014; Kennedy et al., 2006)

Interventions and Treatments

Conduct DisorderAnger Control Training (ACT)Rational-Emotive Mental Health ProgramAutism Spectrum DisorderSuperKidsAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderSummer Treatment Program (STP)

Conduct DisorderGroup Assertiveness Training (GAT)Autism Spectrum DisorderOutpatient Social Skills Group (SSG)Posttraumatic Stress DisorderInterpersonal Therapy

Juvenile OffendersMultisystemic Therapy (MST)

Multidimension-al Family Therapy (MDFT)

Juvenile OffendersCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Mind Body Awareness (MBA)

Computer-tailored Interventions

School Group Family Individual

(Bleiberg et al., 2005; Bogestad et al., 2010; Butler et al., 2011; Campanini et al., 2010; Epp, 2008; Eyberg et al., 2008; Himelstein et al., 2012; Levesque et al., 2012; Liddle et at., 2010; Lochman et al., 2003; Pelham et al., 2008; Rubie et al., 2008)

A Multidimensional Approach

Fire Departmen

t

Law Enforcement

School District

Mental Health

Professionals

Caregivers

Assessment/TxInterventions

IndividualGroup Family

v

(Lambie et al., 2013; MacKay et al., 2012)

Future Implications

◉Further research:

Assessments and referral measures used within community agencies.

Family therapy and parental involvement within treatment of juvenile fire setters and bomb makers

(Lambie et al., 2013; MacKay et al., 2012)

Thank you!

ANY QUESTIONS?

References

Achenbach, T. M. (2006). As Others See Us: Clinical and Research Implications of Cross-Informant Correlations for Psychopathology. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15(2), 94–98. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00414.xAArson Prevention Bureau. (2006). Arson control forum annual report. Retrieved from http://www.communities.gov.uk/ documents/fire/pdf/154145.pdf Barreto, S. J., Boekamp, J. R., Armstrong, L. M., & Gillen, P. (2004). Community-Based Interventions for Juvenile Firestarters: A Brief Family-Centered Model. Psychological Services, 1(2), 158–168. http://doi.org/10.1037/1541-1559.1.2.158Bleiberg, K. L., & Markowitz, J. C (2005). A pilot study of interpersonal psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 181-183.Bogestad, A. J., Kettler, R. J., & Hagan, M. P. (2010). Evaluation of a cognitive intervention program for juvenile offenders. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 54(4), 552-565. doi: 10.1177/0306624X09337211Brenner, E. (2003). Consumer-focused psychological assessment. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34(3), 240–247. http://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.34.3.240Butler, S., Baruch, B., Hickey, N., & Fonagy, P. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of multisystemic therapy and a statutory therapeutic intervention for young offenders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(12), 1220-1235. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2011.09.017Campbell, R. (2014a). Intentional Fires. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.Campbell, R. (2014b). Playing with Fire. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.Campanini, R. F. B., Schoedl, A. F., Pupo, M. C., Costa, A. C. H., Krupnick, J. L., & Mello, M. F. (2010). Efficacy of interpersonal therapy-group format adapted to post-traumatic stress disorder: An open-label add-on trial. Depression and Anxiety, 27, 72-77. doi: 10.1002/da.20610Cote, A. E. (2003). Organizing for fire and rescue services : A special edition of the Fire protection handbook. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.

References

Epp, K. M. (2008). Outcome-based evaluation of social skills program using art therapy and group therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Children & Schools, 30(1), 27-36.Eyberg, S. M., Nelson, M. M., & Boggs, S. R. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with disruptive behavior. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 37(1), 215-327. doi: 10.1080/15374410701820117

Gilman, T. L., & Haden, S. C. (2006). Understanding and Treating the JUVENILE FIRESETTER. Forensic Examiner, 15(4), 11–18. Retrieved from http://0-search.ebscohost.com.sally.sandiego.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tsh&AN=58593069&site=eds-liveGontkovsky, S. T., & Calpin, S. (2009). The forensic zone: Ethical dos and don’ts for clinicians in the forensic milieu. Psyccritiques, 54(44), doi:10.1037/a0017567Hall, J. R., Jr. (2005). Fire in the US and the United Kingdom. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.Johnson, R. (2013). Forensic and Culturally Responsive Approach for the DSM-5: Just the FACTS. Journal of Theory Construction & Testing,17(1), 18–22. Retrieved from http://0-search.ebscohost.com.sally.sandiego.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=87818904&site=eds-liveJohnson R, Fessler A, Wilhelm M, Stepensky A (2014) Towards a Forensic Psychological Evaluation of Juvenile Fire Setters: Parent Power. J Forensic Res 5:214. doi: 10.4172/2157-7145.1000214Kapp, S. A., Petr, C. G., Robbins, M. L., & Choi, J. J. (2013). Collaboration between community mental health and juvenile justice systems: Barriers and facilitators. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 30(6), 505–517. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-013-0300-xHimelstein, S., Hastings, A., Shapiro, S., & Heery, M. (2012). A qualitative investigation of the experience of a mindfulness-based intervention with incarcerated adolescents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 17(4), 231-237. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2011.00647.x

References

Kennedy, P. J., Vale, E. L. E., Khan, S. J., & McAnaney, A. (2006). Factors predicting recidivism in child and adolescent fire-setters: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 17(1), 151–164. http://doi.org/10.1080/14789940500441501Lambie, I., Ioane, J., Randell, I., and Seymour, F. (2013). Offending Behaviors of A Child and Adolescent Firesetters Over a 10-year follow up. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(12), 1295-1307Levesque, D. A., Johnson, J. L., Welch, C. A., Prochaska, J. M., & Fernandez, A. C. (2012). Computer-tailored intervention for juvenile offenders. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 12(4), 391-411. doi: 10.1080/1533256X.2012.728107Liddle, H. A. (2010). Multidimensional family therapy: A science-based treatment system. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 31(2), 133-148. Lochman, J. E., Coie, J. D., Underwood, M. K., & Terry, R. (1993). Effectiveness of a social relations intervention program for aggressive and nonaggressive, rejected children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 1053–1058. doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.61.6.1053MacKay, S., Feldberg, A., Ward, A. K., & Marton, P. (2012). Research and practice in adolescent firesetting. Criminal Justice And Behavior, 39(6), 842-864.Pelham, W. E., Fabiano, G. A., Gnagy, E. M., Greiner, A. R., & Hoza, B. (2005). The role of summer treatment programs in the context of comprehensive treatment for ADHD. In E. Hibbs & P. Jensen (Eds.), Psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent disorders: Empirically based strategies for clinical practice (pp. 377–410). Washington, DC: APA Press.Ruble, L., Willis, H., & Crabtree, V. M. (2008). Social skills group therapy for autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Case Studies, 7(4), 287-300. doi: 10.1177/1534650107309450Slavkin, M. L. (2004). Characteristics of Juvenile Firestarters Across Childhood and Adolescence. The Forensic Examiner, 13(4), 6-18.

References

Sparta, S. N., & Koocher, G. P. (Eds.). (2006). Forensic Mental Health Assessment of Children and Adolescents. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://0-www.ebrary.com.sally.sandiego.edu

Tiffin, P., & Kaplan, C. (2004). Dangerous Children: Assessment and Management of Risk. Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 9(2), 56–64. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3588.2004.00082.xUnited States Fire Administration: FEMA (2012). Prevent youth firesetting: National arson awareness week media kit. Retrieved from http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/arson/aaw12_media_kit.pdfUnited States Fire Administration: FEMA (2013). Fire statistics. Retrieved from http://www.usfa.fema.gov