Letters From the Editor

Welcome to the Second Printed Edition of MatchBook

By Timothy M. Callahan, Ed.D.

Dec 6, 2010 Back

Dear Fellow Professional:

MatchBook was first conceived in 2008 as a way to bring together the different disciplines involved with juvenile firesetting prevention for the purpose of better understanding firesetting behavior. We feel this is best accomplished by looking closely at current research and promising practices. The focus of this issue is juvenile firesetting and the juvenile justice system. The Editorial Board chose to focus on Juvenile Justice because so many youth who set fires are adjudicated. Once in the juvenile court system however, the offending youth faces a response that is dramatically varied from State to State and often county to county. Consequently, because of the lack of uniform practice within the Juvenile Justice system, as it relates to juvenile firesetting, it became clear Juvenile Justice should be the theme for this issue.

Best practices in Juvenile Justice require insight from Fire Services, Mental Health, Education and Burn Care. Juvenile Justice needs pertinent information from first responders, which requires Fire Services to assess each case individually. Additionally, it is beneficial for Juvenile Justice to work with Fire Services to develop standard expectations for first responders when arriving at a fire. Also, Juvenile Justice is best served from input by Mental Health professionals. Within the wide array of mental health professionals, there are many clinicians who eventually interface with firesetting juveniles; they include psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and social workers. Within these disciples there exists trained professionals dedicated specifically to juvenile firesetting behavior; those who understand how to decrease recidivism. Juvenile Justice professionals should also be aware of alternative options such as inpatient and outpatient treatment centers that offer treatment options specifically designed to diagnose and work with firesetting behaviors. Lastly, in order to accomplish best practices in Juvenile Justice for firesetting, the knowledge accumulated by burn hospitals and burn care experts is vital to understanding medically and emotionally, the victims and collaterals impacted by juvenile firesetting.

As MatchBook continues to holistically approach the prevention and treatment juvenile firesetting, this edition focuses on how Juvenile Justice is best benefited by coordinating with Fire Services, Mental Health, Education, Burn Care and Caregivers to develop the best ways to intervene in firesetting behaviors.

In advance, thank you for reading and for being part of the discussion.

Sincerely,
Timothy M. Callahan, Ed.D., Editor in Chief