In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, residents of five inner-city neighborhoods are working in collaboration with fire, police and mental health practitioners by expanding their firestop program to include a face to face meeting between the child or youth responsible for intentional firesetting and the victims affected by the fire. This conference becomes the catalyst to assist in the design of an individualized intervention strategy based on the youth's level of risk, the degree of family or community supports, amenability to treatment and the availability of relevant programming. The inclusion of fire department and metal health personnel at the meeting ensure that access to appropriate educational and treatment programs is readily available.
Conferences offer significant benefits for all participants.
Youth recognize the true impact their actions have had on others and are given the opportunity to apologize, make amends to the extent possible and perhaps be forgiven. The presence of supporters who can reaffirm their worth as members of the community while condemning their behaviour is a key element of the process. Within the supportive environment of the conference, youth, families and their supporters can openly discuss the underlying issues that may have contributed to the wrong-doing and assume an active role in finding solutions. Victims come to the conference with their family and friends for support. Conferences allow victims to tell the youth how they feel and how the fire has affected them.