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Juvenile Firesetter Intervention
Program
The Monroe County Fire Bureau’s
Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program (JFIP) serves the children and
families of Monroe County. The JFIP
specifically targets children who have engaged in fireplay or firesetting
behaviors. Each year, JFIP sees on average over 200 children in Monroe
County (excluding the City of Rochester) who have been involved with
some type of fireplay or firesetting incidents. The average yearly damage
cost
to these fires totals over $350,000 per year. Nearly 35% of the children
that JFIP sees are involved with or are referred on for mental health
services. Each intervention and education program done with a child is
done in the
child’s home with a parent present.
In addition to the education and assessment that is completed with
each child, JFIP staff work with each family on developing a
safety and home
escape plan, provide smoke detectors if necessary, and assist the family
in finding ongoing mental health or preventive services as needed.
JFIP staff follow-up with the family as long as necessary to
ensure the problem
is resolved. There is no cost to families and JFIP have 24/7 availability.
In addition, the JFIP does community education presentations to over
3,000 children per year and is used as a model program throughout New
York State.
Other JFIP programs include smoke and carbon monoxide detector giveaway
programs, community education campaigns, the Monroe County Juvenile
Fire Prevention Task Force and a focus on senior citizen fire safety.
JFIP program staff consist of the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention
Specialist and three juvenile officers and several masters’ level
graduate student interns. Combined the staff have over 50 years experience
working
in the
fire service and working with children.
If you have questions regarding any of JFIP’s programs, would
like to make a juvenile fire intervention referral, or have other fire
prevention
or safety questions, contact Fred Rion at the Monroe County Fire Bureau
at (585) 279-4050 or e-mail Fred at frion@monroecounty.gov.
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