Training Curriculum
Development & Delivery

ICF International is a national leader in the provision of training for community development and housing professionals. We deliver nearly 100 training sessions annually to more than 5,000 state, local, and tribal government and nonprofit staff. Our current training catalog includes more than 30 different courses on topics such as lead-based paint hazard control; the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program; the Home Investment Partnership (HOME) Program monitoring; asset management; relocation and acquisition; subrecipient monitoring; and business planning for nonprofit organizations. ICF International works with clients to determine the best method for addressing information needs and then designs curriculum to meet the needs. Because what happens after a training class is as important as what happens in the classroom, our training includes detailed manuals, work tools, and self-assessments, as well as exercises and case studies. ICF International trainers are experienced professionals who both know the subject matter and are skilled in making clear and effective presentations.

ICF International Awarded $8 Million to Support HUD's Community Development Technical Assistance Grant Programs Calendar of Upcoming Training Courses & Conferences Catalog of Available Training Courses Strengthening Your Human Services Network

In addition to designing classroom training, ICF International designs CD-ROM and Web-based distance learning courses using various technology tools. Online products include courses on housing finance, construction, and property and asset management.

SELECTED PROJECTS

Instructing HUD Staff on the HOME Program Administering Section 184 Training to Tribes and Homebuyers in Indian Country Designing and Conducting Lead-Based Paint Regulation Training

INSTRUCTING HUD STAFF ON HOME PROGRAM

Challenge Solution Benefit Challenge The Home Investment Partnership (HOME) Program began in 1990 when Congress passed the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act. This grant program, administered by the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was designed to create affordable housing for low-income households. Participating Jurisdictions (PJs), including state and local grantees, receive set allocations with which they can assist low-income families by administering home buyer programs, offering tenant-based rental assistance, funding homeowner rehabilitation, and running rental programs for rehabilitation and new construction. The success of the HOME program requires efficient and effective program administration by PJs, yet even a thorough understanding of the HOME rules and regulations does not necessarily result in success. Grant recipients need to know the tools and limitations of the HOME program, and they also need new ideas and tactics from the experience of housing professionals. HUD looked to ICF International for assistance. Solution Relying on technical expertise in affordable housing and staff experienced in training design and development, ICF International designed a suite of classroom and online training for HOME program PJs. The introductory course, Welcome HOME, developed in 1990 to introduce the new program to grantees, explained the rules and regulations of the HOME program. Building from the core curriculum, other HOME courses in the ICF International Training Catalog—both online and classroom-based—have explored issues related to program operation, management of nonprofit housing developers, and financial management. All the HOME courses combine helpful tools and aides that help participants deal with day-to-day technical problems. The HOME training curriculum has been developed in partnership with HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development. Benefit More than 200 training sessions have been delivered, reaching thousands of HUD program staff. The course training manuals have become the unofficial desk guide for HOME program managers.

ADMINISTERING SECTION 184 TRAINING IN INDIAN COUNTRY

Challenge Solution Benefit Challenge In 1992 Congress created a federal program specifically designed to address the lack of mortgage capital in Indian country. The provisions of Section 184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 enabled HUD to assist Native Americans by offering loan guarantees to private sector lenders. These guarantees made loans available to eligible buyers for homes located in Indian Country. The Loan Guarantee Program is restricted to Native American borrowers selecting home sites in an Indian-designated jurisdiction. While the Section 184 program has the potential to increase homeownership rates throughout Indian country, education and counseling programs are critical in this process. Many Native American families are first-time home buyers who require education on the steps involved in preparing a successful mortgage application. Other families need counseling to develop or repair credit history or reduce existing debt. Lenders, too, need to recognize the reduced risk of mortgages backed by Section 184 guarantees if they are to be more willing to extend mortgage loans to Native American home buyers. HUD recognized the importance of education and counseling to the success of the program and turned to ICF International. Solution In 1998, ICF International worked with staff from HUD's Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) to design a course teaching tribes and lenders about the Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program. This training, designed in two separate sessions for tribes and lenders, provided participants with the tools they need to participate in the Section 184 loan program, either as a lender or first-time homeowner. In addition, ICF International designed a Homebuyer Counseling training module that walked participants through the steps of designing a home buyer counseling program at their organizations. The course was taught by both ONAP and ICF International staff throughout Indian country. The training was delivered seven times as a two-day course. Each training delivery reached 75 to 100 participants. Benefit Tribes and lenders are effectively using the Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program. HUD has asked ICF International to offer additional training and technical assistance support to tribes through ONAP.

LEAD-BASED PAINT REGULATION TRAINING

Challenge Solution Benefit Challenge In 1999, HUD published a new regulation on lead hazard evaluation and reduction in government-assisted housing properties. This new rule had significant impact on the design and operation of assisted housing programs. HUD recognized the need for a major training effort to teach housing program professionals how to implement the rule's requirements. The task was challenging given the thousands of housing programs impacted by the rule, staff concerns about implementing major changes in operations, and HUD's desire to offer training in classroom settings. Solution To respond to HUD's need, ICF International designed a training program that addresses both the technical requirements of HUD regulations and the program implementation and actions required of local staff. The comprehensive course book includes detailed tables with requirement summaries, step-by-step guidance for incorporating the requirements into assisted housing programs, self-assessment tools to allow participants to evaluate their progress towards regulatory compliance, and exercises to illustrate different aspects of the new requirements. The training design provides facts and figures to help overcome myths and misconceptions, presents practical approaches to implementation, and allows participants to apply the material to their own programs. To prepare for the training delivery, ICF International fielded a team of eleven trainers with experience in housing programs, renovation, and lead hazard reduction. These trainers attended a "training of trainers" and a pilot delivery where they became well-versed in the course content and shared ideas with each other about how to best teach the materials. Finally, ICF International's logistics management team identified sites and made logistical arrangements for 55 training sessions nationwide. Benefit More than 3,200 people were trained within nine months. Each training participant received take-home resources including the comprehensive training manual and an action plan to begin project implementation. After attending the training delivery, participants were able to start taking steps to implement the rule in their local programs and, ultimately, protect children in their communities from the dangers of lead-based paint. Read more about ICF International's expertise in lead hazard control.