EDUCATOR • PRACTITIONER • ADVOCATE
Kathi
Osmonson
Youth Firesetting Prevention & Intervention • Community Risk Reduction
Helping people understand risk, reach youth, and build safer communities through practical education, collaboration and prevention.
NEARLY 4 DECADES
Fire service & prevention experience
NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY
Instructor & subject-matter expertise
M.S. FORENSIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Behavior-focused perspective
YFPI PROGRAM MANAGER
Program development & multidisciplinary work
EXPERIENCE MEETS EDUCATION
About Kathi
Kathi Osmonson began her fire service career in 1987 and discovered early that some of the greatest opportunities to save lives happen long before an emergency call.
Her career has crossed firefighting, prevention, investigation, education and Community Risk Reduction, with a particular focus on children and youth who misuse fire.
As a Deputy Minnesota State Fire Marshal, Kathi helped build and sustain a statewide multidisciplinary Youth Firesetting Prevention & Intervention network, bringing together fire service, mental health, law enforcement, juvenile justice and social-service professionals.
Today she teaches professionals across disciplines how to understand youth firesetting behavior, create effective prevention and intervention programs, communicate fire and life safety concepts, and use Community Risk Reduction to make a measurable difference.
A PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure.
Youth firesetting is not simply a fire problem. Community risk is not solved by handing someone a brochure or a plastic fire helmet. Effective prevention begins by understanding people, behavior, data, and the community around them.
WHAT KATHI DOES
How Kathi Can Help
Education, consultation, program development and practical resources for agencies and professionals working to reduce risk.
01
Youth Firesetting Prevention & Intervention
Understand youth firesetting behavior, conduct meaningful intervention, build referral networks, and develop sustainable multidisciplinary YFPI programs.
02
Community Risk Reduction
Move from traditional fire prevention toward a broader, data-informed approach to identifying risks, vulnerable populations, and effective interventions.
03
Professional Education
Engaging instruction for firefighters, educators, investigators, YFPI specialists, behavioral-health professionals, law enforcement, and community partners.
04
Program Development & Team Building
Identify stakeholders, establish partnerships, develop multidisciplinary teams, and turn strong ideas into sustainable programs.
05
Speaking & Consultation
Conference presentations, professional development, and consultation that connect research and experience with the realities practitioners face.
06
Writing & Research
Articles, peer review, research, and practical resources exploring youth firesetting, behavioral health, prevention, and Community Risk Reduction.
THE APPROACH
The work is about people.
Be Curious
Understanding behavior and risk starts with asking better questions before assuming we already know the answer.
Build the Team
Complex problems rarely belong to one profession. The strongest solutions bring the right disciplines to the same table.
Make It Useful
Research and data matter most when they become something a practitioner can actually use in the field and community.
SPECIALTY FOCUS
Youth Firesetting Is More Than a Fire Problem.
When a young person misuses fire, simply punishing the behavior often fails to address why it happened. Effective intervention looks at the whole child and brings together the right professionals to address the behavior safely and appropriately.
- Behavior & motivation
- Interviewing & screening
- Educational intervention
- Behavioral considerations
- Working with families
- Team development
- Program management
- Documentation & data
- Prevention strategies
- YFIRES
BROADER PERSPECTIVE
Community Risk Reduction
Find the risk. Understand the people. Do something about it.
CRR asks us to look beyond emergency response and understand why incidents are happening, who is being affected, and what can be done before the next call occurs.
Kathi helps fire service organizations and community partners apply CRR thinking to real-world problems through education, collaboration, and practical prevention strategies.
SPEAKING & TRAINING
Learn With Kathi
Bring practical, experience-based instruction to your conference, department, multidisciplinary team, or professional development program.
Conference Presentations
National, state, and regional professional conferences.
Agency Training
Customized education for departments and partner organizations.
Workshops
Interactive sessions focused on YFPI, CRR, education, and program development.
Consultation
Support for agencies building programs or tackling difficult issues.
WRITING & RESEARCH
From the classroom to the field—and back again.
Kathi’s writing and professional work explore the intersection of fire behavior, youth development, behavioral health, education, and prevention.
Youth FiresettingIntellectual DisabilitiesADHDConduct DisorderFASDScreening & AssessmentYFIRESCRRProgram Development
WHAT LEARNERS SAY
“I cannot say how informative and passionate Kathi O. was in her interactions with the class. It is so great to learn from someone who has been so consistently involved in the evolution of this program.”
Course Participant
ARTICLES & RESOURCES
Latest From Kathi
A mix of practical field insight, research commentary, educational resources, and ideas worth discussing.
START A CONVERSATION
Let’s Make Prevention Practical.
Whether you’re building a YFPI program, strengthening your CRR efforts, planning professional education, or working through a difficult problem, Kathi would love to hear what you’re working on.