• 2000 106pp paperback ISBN: 9781568870632
• A Practitioner's Resource Series Title
More juveniles are arrested for arson than any other violent crime and over 50%
of all arrests for arson involve children under the age of 18 (source: Federal
Bureau of Investigation). In spite of this fact, there have previously been very
few authoritative books or workshops dealing with assessment of and behavioral
interventions with child and adolescent firesetters. As a result, most mental
health professionals are unfamiliar with the empirical literature regarding
juvenile firesetting and many cling to beliefs that are based more on myth than
reality.
This highly instructive practitioner guide summarizes research
findings; outlines existing theories, diagnostic classifications, motivational
typologies, and family characteristics; describes available assessment tools,
models, and protocols; and presents alternatives for treatment including
interventions that involve collaboration with fire service professionals and
families. The author presents "best practice" standards for those who want to
expand their practices to work with juvenile firesetters and fire prevention
programs. Includes two illustrative case studies, numerous references, and
additional regional, state, and national resources for further study, training,
networking, and skill development.
"Facts about firesetting are scarce, and this well-written
handbook is a welcome addition to the small body of literature on juvenile
firesetting behavior. Stadolnik, a strong advocate of appropriate diagnosis, as
well as an expert in providing treatment to juvenile firesetters, feels that
diagnoses of firesetting and pyromania tend to be based more on myth than on
fact. Besides clarifying the magnitude of the problem in terms of both public
safety and personal property loss, he gives a clear presentation of its
implications for the psychiatric and criminal justice systems. His text,
reinforced with current scientific research, provides excellent motivational
typologies, assessment tools, and case studies for the professional who treats
firesetting youth... provides new and invaluable assistance to mental health,
education, and fire science professionals.
-Readings
"...serves as an important alarm bell to warn and wake us from
social and professional slumber. For once, sadly, and author rightly terms a
problem as 'a child and adolescent crisis of tremendous proportions.'
Stadolnik's book is a wonderful example of the 'best-practices' approach...
includes recommendations of particular instruments and approaches for assessment
and treatment. This is a straightforward, yet sophisticated work worth reading
by any psychologist who works with children or adolescents. Robert Stadolnik has
done us all a service by drawing us nearer to the flames."
-Massachusetts Psychologist
Table of Contents
DEDICATION
SERIES PREFACE
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH FACTS VERSUS COMMON FICTION: UNDERSTANDING THE JUVENILE FIRESETTING PROBLEM
Common Mythology and Misinformation
Roots and Early History of the Mythology
Firesetting in Psychiatric Literature
The Mythology of Firesetting
Firesetting Incidence and Prevalence Data
Public Safety Data
Criminal Justice Data
Property Loss Data
Gender
Age
Parent and Family Characteristics
Clinical Incidence
Diagnostic Classification
Pyromania, Sex, and Firesetting
Firesetting Theory
Dynamic-Behavioral Formulation
Social Learning Model
Cycles of Firesetting: An Oregon Model
Motivational Typologies
"Curiosity" Motivated Firesetting
"Crisis" Motivated Firesetting
"Delinquent" Motivated Firesetting
"Pathologically" Motivated Firesetting
SOLVING THE ASSESSMENT PUZZLE
Firesetting Assessment Issues
Clinician Background and Skills
Firesetting Assessment Models, Protocols, and Tools
Children's Firesetting Interview (CFI) and Firesetting Risk Interview (FRI)
The F.I.R.E. Protocol: An Assessment Instrument for Firesetting Behaviors
Firesetter Analysis Worksheet
Juvenile Firesetter Needs Assessment Protocol (JFNAP)
Moderate Prognostic Indicators
Guarded Prognostic Indicators
Poor Prognostic Indicators
Qualitative Analysis Model of Child and Adult Fire Deviant Behavior
Massachusetts Coalition Model
Fire History
Fire Scene Evidence
Fire Knowledge
Parent/Family Functioning
Behavioral Functioning
Emotional Functioning
Cognitive/School Functioning
TREATMENT OF JUVENILE FIRESETTING BEHAVIOR
Review of Literature
Treatment Components
Fire Service Collaboration
Fire Safety Education
Behavioral Interventions
Family Therapy
Hospitalization, Residential Placement, and Medication
CASE STUDIES
"Joshua"
Background Information
Behavioral Observations/Mental Status Examination
Test Results
Firesetting Behavior
Treatment Recommendations
"Claudia"
Background Information
Behavioral Observations/Mental Status Examination
Test Results
Firesetting Behavior
Treatment Recommendations
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX: JUVENILE FIRESETTING RESOURCES
Newsletters
National and International Organizations
Professional and Technical Resources
State and Regional Juvenile Firesetting Intervention Networks
REFERENCES
About the Author
Robert F. Stadolnik, EdD, is President of Fire Psych, Inc., a specialized
psychological practice in Norwood, Massachusetts providing assessment and
treatment services to juvenile firesetters. He is a licensed psychologist whose
practice specialties include child, adolescent and family psychology. Dr.
Stadolnik provides supervision, consultation and training regarding firesetting
behaviors on a local, state and national level. In 1992, he cofounded the
Westwood (MA) Firesetting Intervention Project (with Chief John Sheehy of the
Westwood Fire Department). Dr. Stadolnik has been a member of the Massachusetts
State-Wide Coalition for Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Programs since 1993.
In 1996, he established the Mental Health Task Force within that coalition to
develop, enhance and coordinate the integration of mental health services in
multidisciplinary firesetting intervention sites throughout the state; and he
served as Chair of that Task Force from 1996 to 2000. Dr. Stadolnik is a member
of the American Psychological Association and the Massachusetts Psychological
Association.
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