The National Fire Academy (NFA) now offers the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist (JFIS) I & II Leadership class (R-828) via the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP). There will be two offerings during the 2007 Federal Fiscal Year which runs from October 1, 2006-September 30 2007.
The class dates are November 5-10, 2006 and June 10-15, 2007. The Volunteer Incentive Program begins on Sunday morning with a student orientation at 8:00 a.m. Classes begin at 9:00 a.m. following orientation and continue through the following Friday at 4:00 p.m.
If you are a volunteer in a volunteer or combination department, you are eligible to apply for the VIP program. For this Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist (JFIS) I & II Leadership class (R-828), you may also apply if you work with a Juvenile Firesetter Intervention program that is aligned with a volunteer or combination department. In addition to firefighters, law enforcement, arson investigators (police or fire service), mental health professionals, schools, children’s hospitals and social services also may apply on a space available basis.
You will need to provide a letter from the chief verifying predominantly volunteer combination department and identifying how you will use the training requested to help the volunteers with whom you work.
The application period for the November 2006 offering ends on June 30 and the application period for the June 2007 class is open from November 1-December 31, 2006.
Course Description
The six-day course was developed as the result of an emerging standard (Juvenile Firesetting Intervention Professional Standard, which is part of NFPA 1035, Public Fire & Life Safety Educator). Students will address the skills essential for the Juvenile Firesetting Intervention Specialist I, which include identification, intake, interview, determining intervention strategy, fire and life safety education, referral to mental health or juvenile justice and evaluation. The class also addresses the skills needed to be a Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist II, including program, policies, procedures and forms; budget and funding; creation of a coalition/interagency network; community awareness; develop-deliver training; managing JFIS I staff; data collection; records and case files and program evaluation. Students will visit a local treatment unit and interview juvenile arsonists, and receive an extensive presentation of essential information derived from the courtroom testimony and case preparation course for juvenile arsonists being developed by the IAAI.
Selection Criteria
Students must have or will have responsibilities related to the management and/or coordination of a Juvenile Firesetting Intervention program in their department. Students from law enforcement, arson investigators (police or fire service), mental health professionals, schools, children’s hospitals and social services also may apply on a space available basis.
If you have any questions regarding the NFA Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist I & II Leadership class (R-828), contact Timothy Patrick O’Dowd at Tim.ODowd@dhs.gov.
Link to the National Fire Academy (NFA) Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist I & II Leadership (R-828) course at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/nfacsd/display.jsp?cc=R828
