Building assets in children is not a project or program. It is a journey that should take place during the developmental years (ages 0-20) of all children.
Great Kids of Allen County 



 

Ring of Fire: The Cycle of Juvenile Firesetting

Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:00am-3:30pm

Kachmann Auditorium, Lutheran Hospital

7836 West Jefferson Avenue

Fort Wayne, IN

Co-Sponsored by Great KIDS and The Allen County Juvenile Firesetters Task Force

Registration Fee: $20

Download Registration Form

Registration Deadline: August 15, 2009

Juvenile firesetting is a devastating, costly and sometimes deadly problem that affects every community in the United States. Yet often, juvenile firesetters go unnoticed, causes of fires remain undetermined, and young people never receive needed treatment and/or consequences.  This training is presented by local experts from the Allen County Juvenile Firesetters Task Force as well as local community members who have experienced these issues in their homes and lives.

 Participants attending "A Ring of Fire: The Cycle of Juvenile Firesetting" will:

  • Understand the scope and prevalence of Juvenile Firesetting Behavior in the US

  • Learn environmental, behavioral, psychological and interpersonal factors that lead juveniles to set fires

  • Gain techniques for interviewing, not interrogating, juveniles suspected of setting fires

  • Become aware of intervention options available in the community

  • Understand the juvenile justice process relating to juveniles who set fires, and how to work with the justice system

  • Hear the personal stories of foster parents caring for children who set fires and a young person living with the consequences of firesetting behavior

  • Network with others interested in preventing and intervening with firesetting behavior

This training is designed for Department of Child Services workers, Juvenile Probation Officers, paid and volunteer firefighters, Fire/Arson Investigators, Foster Parents, Home-based/Early Intervention Case Managers, Police/Sheriff Department Officers and others who may intervene with juveniles setting fires in the community. 

Schedule

8:30am-8:45am                                                         Welcome and Introduction
8:45am-9:30am                                                    Factors in Firesetting Behavior
9:30am-10:30am                                                              Interviewing Juveniles
10:30am-10:45am                                                                                   Break
10:45am-11:30am                                                          Role of Juvenile Justice
11:30am-12:30pm                                                            Lunch and Networking
12: 30pm-1:00pm                                                        Firesetters in Foster Care
1:00pm-1:45pm                                                     Assessment and Intervention
1:45pm-2:00pm                                                                                      Break
2:00-2:30pm                                          A Juvenile Firesetter's Family Experience
2:30-3:00pm                        Allen County Juvenile Firesetter Task Force Members,

                                                                                     Roles and Information
3:00-3:30pm                                                      Wrap-up, Question and Answer

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Presenters include:

Eric Anthony, Program Coodinator, Indiana Department of Corrections, Juvenile Services.  Mr. Anthony has served with the Indiana Department of Corrections, Juvenile Services since 1995. In addition, he has served as a Firefighter/EMT with the New Haven-Adams Township Fire Department since 1989.

Cathy Bosk, Foster Family Support Coordinator, Catholic Charities: Ms. Bosk provides training and support for foster families through Catholic Charities.

Katey, Christman, Rehabilitation Coordinator, Bowen Center: Ms. Christman is a graduate of Ball State University and a current Master's student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at IPFW. She currently serves as a Rehabilitation Coordinator for the Fort Wayne Bowen Center. Ms. Christman has been involved with various Bowen programs for over four years. In her position, Ms. Christman manages rehabilitation service providers (case managers), handles referrals, provides individual and family treatment to allen county residents, and coordinates with various community resources to help clients in need.

Jonathon F. Dize, Executive Director, Northeast Indiana Burn Council: Mr. Dize has been the Executive Director of the Northeast Indiana Burn Council for the past three years.  The Northeast Indiana Burn Council is a non-profit dedicated to providing support to children, adults and families affected by a burn incident in Northern Indiana, SE Michigan and NW Ohio. The board and staff of the Burn Council is dedicated to preventing injury, helping those injured and helping with the healing after the injury.

Chad Gerardot, Captain, Fort Wayne Fire Department: Captain Gerardot graduated from the Fort Wayne Fire Academy in 2001, and was assessed to the rank for Lieutenant in 2007.  In 2008, Captain Gerardot graduated from the Fort Wayne Police Academy, and currently serves as a Captain in the Fort Wayne Fire Department Arson Investigations Division.

Megan E.B. Kelly, Coordinator, Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES: Ms. Kelly holds bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Human Development and Social Relations from Kalamazoo College, and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Ms. Kelly has worked in the social services field in Allen County for eight years, and has been the Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES Coordinator since 2006. She has worked along side the Fort Wayne Fire Department assessing juvenile firesetters for over five years, and additionally works as a therapist at St. Joseph Hospital, Behavioral Health.

Chuck Lake, CFEI, IAAI-CFI: Arson Investigator, Chief, FAST Team: Chief Lake is a long-standing member of the New Haven Fire Department. He currently seres as Chief of the Fire Arson Specialized Team of Allen County, Chief of Investigations & Public Information Officer for New Haven Adams Twp Fire and EMS and is a Special Deputy for Allen County Sheriff's Department. 

Dave Meadows, Captain, Safety Education Division, Fort Wayne Fire Department: Captain Meadows has worked with the Fort Wayne Fire Department for 24 years, including the last 12 in the Safety Education Division.  Captain Meadows leads the Allen County Juvenile Firesetters Task Force and is responsible for all Firesetters Inverventions with the Fort Wayne Fire Department. In addition, Captain Meadows is a long-standing member of the South Whitley Volunteer Fire Department.

Dianne Meadows, Assistant Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Allen County Juvenile Probation: Ms. Meadows holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Indiana University. She has worked in the Allen County Juvenile Probation Department since 1974, as a Field Officer, Intake Officer, Senior Officer and Assistant Chief.

Michelle McCarthy, Community Relations Coordinator, St. Joseph Hospital Burn Center: Ms. McCarthy is a Registered Nurse specializing in Burn Care with St. Joseph Hospital, and additionally serves as the Community Relations Coordintor for the Burn Center.

Angela Patterson, Foster Parent, Catholic Charities: Ms. Patterson has been a well-respected foster parent, serving difficult children in her home, for a number of years.  Ms. Patterson is a former Fort Wayne Police Officer.

Cynthia Probst, MS, LMHC, Supervisor, SCAN: Ms. Probst has almost 30 years experience working with youth and families. She has worked at Crossroad, Park Center, Southwest Allen County Schools, and is currently a supervisor at SCAN. While at Crossroad, Ms. Probst was part of creating the Juvenile Firesetter Treatment program. Cynthia recently rejoined the Task Force after a short absence. 

Caprice Ramirez, Probation Officer, Allen County Juvenile Probation: Ms. Ramirez obtained her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice through Indiana University/Purdue University Fort Wayne. She also holds a Master's Degree in Management through Indiana Wesleyan University. Caprice has worked with the Allen County Juvenile Probation Department since 1998, serving as a Clerk, Administrative Probation Officer, and Restitution Officer. 
 

Tom Rotering, Captain, Investigation Division, Fort Wayne Fire Department: Captain Rotering has an extensive civil service background that began in 1989. Captain Rotering joined the Fort Wayne Fire Department in 1995, where he has worked in the Fire/Arson Investigation Division for the last several years.  Captain Rotering has completed several hundred training hours in special operations response, fire investigation, law enforcement, criminal law, interview/interrogation, firefighting instruction, and emergency medical response, and is an Indiana State Certified Emergency Medical Technician and an Indiana State Certified Law Enforcement Officer.

Ellen Schlatter, Clinical Director, Crossroad- Fort Wayne Children's Home: Ms. Schlatter holds a Master's Degree in Counseling and a license as a Mental Health Counselor from the State of Indiana.  She has worked with children and families in residential and outpatient settings with Crossroad for the last twelve years, and has been the Clinical Director, supervising therapists and case managers since 2007.

Robin Springstead, FAKT Coordinator, Catholic Charities: Ms. Springstead is the FAKT Program Coordinator at Catholic Charities. Ms. Springstead has worked for the past 15 years providing training services for foster, adoptive, and kinship care providers approved and/or licensed through the Indiana Department of Child Services.

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