Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center
The Bradley Hospital FireSafe Families Project
Principal Investigators
• Steven Barreto, PhD
• John Boekamp, PhD
Funding Sources
• Rhode Island Justice Commission
• Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England
• Amica Insurance
• Tanner Foundation
Description
Juvenile firesetting is a significant public health problem, resulting
in 100,000 fires and more than 300 deaths annually in the United
States. Research indicates that juvenile firesetters are very likely
to continue to set fires without intervention. Psychosocial factors
such as impulsivity, limited caregiver supervision, responsibilities
for home fire activities, and access to matches or lighters predict
juvenile firesetting behavior.
The Bradley FireSafe Families project is a collaborative effort
between hospital, fire service and community social service agencies
designed to reduce the risk of firesetting recidivism in the state
of Rhode Island. The project includes a manualized and standardized
service program that is a unique blend of fire safety education
and brief mental health intervention to be administered statewide
to children who have set fires and their parents. Program effects
on future firesetting, and awareness and use of coping strategies
have been evaluated.
Significance
This line of research can decrease the risk of juvenile firesetting,
and may even reduce deaths resulting from fires set by children
if we are able to help children and their families recognize and
manage risk factors for juvenile firesetting. The FireSafe Families
Program is the first attempt at systematically evaluating the efficacy
of a standardized statewide model of service delivery to juvenile
firesetters. It is also the first group intervention model to be
subject to empirical evaluation and the first group cognitive-behavioral
intervention for firesetting to include both parents and children.
Through this project, Bradley Hospital has emerged as the leader
of a major collaborative public health effort in Rhode Island. The
FireSafe Families project represents the first statewide attempt
in Rhode Island to introduce empirically-based services delivery
for juvenile firesetters.
More about Fire Safe
Families
Find out more: Please contact
us for more
information about the center and our research.
Back
|
