Week One (cost - $1,500)- Register
Courses offered in Week One:
Fair Housing Law and Ethics
Effective Fair Housing Intake & Introduction to TEAPOTS
Critical Thinking and Investigation including Interviewing Techniques
State and local agencies participating in the Fair Housing Assistance Program: You must take the courses in sequential order.

Fair Housing Law and Ethics: A two-day course designed to provide investigators with a historical and legal framework for conducting comprehensive, impartial, and ethical investigations.
In Fair Housing Law and Ethics, you learn to:

• Describe the provisions and history of the Fair Housing Act and the most common situations that give rise to ethical problems.
• Identify the Fair Housing Act's protected classes, the types of conduct and activities prohibited, and statutory exemptions.
• Respond appropriately in situations in which there is a potential appearance of partisanship or improper relationships.

Effective Fair Housing Intake and Introduction to TEAPOTS: A one-day course that provides an introduction to the Title Eight Automated Paperless Office Tracking System (TEAPOTS) and provides participants practical and meaningful information on effective intake of fair housing complaints to ensure appropriate complaint intake and processing.
In Effective Intake, you learn to:

• Use TEAPOTS to document complaint intake and investigation.
• Provide customer service that is culturally competent.
• Understand the jurisdictional elements of a fair housing complaint
• Understand the fair housing complaint process, relevant forms and questionnaires, and relevant information to document damages.

Critical Thinking and Investigation including Interviewing Techniques: A two-day course that introduces participants to a thoughtful and structured approach to investigating fair housing complaints.
This structured approach helps participants to:

• Conduct fair, impartial and thorough investigations.
• Obtain the facts and circumstances that either prove or disprove an allegation of discrimination.
• Document the facts and circumstances of the case.

In Critical Thinking and Investigation including Interviewing Techniques, you learn to:

• Analyze information and understand the complaint process from an investigative point of view.
• Identify the steps for investigating a fair housing complaint and the key players in the complaint investigations process.
• Apply a fair housing based analysis process.
• Conduct effective interviews during the investigation process.

Week Two (cost- $1,500) - Register
Participants funded through the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) must take the courses in sequential order.  Week One must be completed prior to attending Week Two.

Courses offered in Week Two:
Theories of Proof and Data Analysis
Discovery Techniques and Evidence

Theories of Proof and Data Analysis: A one-day course that provides an overview of various theories of proof and data analysis that have been applied by courts and their application to the investigative process.  The course presents an opportunity to apply these principles to investigative situations using in-depth case studies and analysis designed to stimulate and enhance critical thinking.
In this course, you learn to:

• Apply the jurisdictional elements to the facts of a fair housing complaint
• Understand the concept of “motive” in  proving that discriminatory practice has occurred.
• Define the terms discriminatory intent and discriminatory impact.
• Understand how the concept of burden of proof applies to housing discrimination complaints.
• Determine what type of evidence proves or disproves an allegation of discrimination.
• Apply the proof theories to determine whether a complaint has merit.

Discovery Techniques and Evidence:  A three-day course that focuses on the assessment of evidence in a fair housing investigation.  Federal rules for evidence, including relevance, rules of hearsay, and elements of proof are discussed.  The course focuses on the collection of investigative evidence that tends to prove or disprove discrimination and it covers planning and executing an on-site investigation.
In this course, you learn to:

• Describe the concepts of relevance and admissibility as they relate to evidence.
• Identify witness testimony that is competent and admissible.
• Develop an investigative plan that includes the most efficient and productive methods for gathering information through proper sequencing of discovery.
• Draft a request for evidence and a subpoena.
• Apply theories of proof to determine if housing discrimination occurred.

Week Three (cost- $1,500) - Register
Participants funded through the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) must take the courses in sequential order. Week Two must be completed prior to attending Week Three.

Courses offered in Week Three
Standards for Testing Cases
Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications
The Psychological Impact of Discrimination
Negotiation Skills /Conciliation for Investigators

Standards for Testing Cases: This one-day course is designed to enhance the ability of investigators to examine and analyze testing evidence in an investigation. This course gives participants a brief introduction to testing standards and focuses on the skills needed to determine whether a test has been properly conducted and how to read and analyze testing results.
In this course, you learn to:

• Understand the legal authority for testing in fair housing cases.
• Explain the general role testing plays in an investigation and basics of testing methodology.
• Describe situations when testing may or may not be effective.
• Explain what an investigator should look for in testing data.

Reasonable Accommodation and Modification: The one-day course provides participants with a basic historical and legal framework for application of the principles of reasonable accommodations, reasonable modifications, and accessibility as a part of investigation of housing discrimination based on disability.  
In Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications, you learn to:

• Effectively understand the origin of disability rights concepts and principles.
• Describe and apply four major federal laws prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities.
• Understand and apply the concepts of the prima facie case and appropriate defenses during intake,
  investigation, and trials involving denials of reasonable accommodations and refusals to make reasonable modifications.
• Identify the scope and the accessibility design requirements for newly constructed multifamily housing under the Fair Housing Act.

The Psychological Impact of Discrimination:  A one-day exploration of the psychological harm and other injuries caused by illegal discrimination.
In this course, you learn to:

• Recognize the types of damages that may be available under fair housing laws
• Discuss ways in which psychological harm is manifested in victims of discrimination
• Identify the ways to investigate and document injury in the course of an investigation.
• Identify some of the personal and psychological challenges that are experienced by victims of racial discrimination

Negotiation Skills /Conciliation for Investigators: A two-day course that covers the basic principles of the conciliation process, including fundamental principles of negotiation, legal requirements and win-win strategies.
In this course, you learn to:

• Understand and apply effective negotiation strategies
• Focus on “reading” people during negotiations.
• Differentiate between various conciliation techniques.
• Critique the value of the various forms of conciliation
• Assess the problems and opportunities associated with conciliation.
•  Analyze the importance of developing and implementing dispute resolution strategies.
• Acquire the skills necessary to successfully conciliate matters.
• Critically analyze and assess the present dispute resolution applications in fair housing.

Week Four (cost- $1,500) - register
Learn to summarize the essential elements of a fair housing complaint.
Apply your skills, techniques and knowledge in a simulated investigative situation.
Participants funded through the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) must take the courses in sequential order.  Week Three must be completed prior to attending Week Four.

Courses offered in Week Four:

Briefing Techniques for Complaint Investigations
Writing Cases/FIRs Using TEAPOTS
Fair Housing Investigation Review and Application

Briefing Techniques for Complaint Investigations:   A two-day course that trains investigators to summarize the essential elements of a fair housing complaint investigation, ensure a complete investigation, and develop findings and conclusions.
In this course, you learn to:

• Apply the jurisdictional elements of a fair housing complaint to the facts of an investigation.
• Summarize and analyze a complaint’s allegations and the respondent’s defense.
• Organize and concisely state the relevant issues of a case.

Writing Cases/FIRs Using TEAPOTS:  A one-day course that focuses on using TEAPOTS to write a Final Investigative Report.
In this course, you learn to:

• Explain the purpose of the fair housing complaint investigation.
• Create, revitalize or reconnect with the skills needed to build a solid foundation for the investigation of a fair housing complaint.
• Write investigative records, a summary of allegations, an effective witness summary and a document summary.
• Identify essential information that should be included   in the findings and conclusions of the determination.
• Compare summaries of witness statements and document reviews with actual findings and conclusions.

Fair Housing Investigation Review and Application:  A two-day course that uses skills, knowledge and techniques taught in earlier NFHTA sessions on fair housing laws, theories of proof, investigative process and skill, discovery techniques, rules of evidence, negotiating skills, damage calculation and applies these skills in a simulated investigative situation.
In this course, you learn to:

• Review foundational principles from the Fair Housing Act.
• Strengthen your understanding of the rules of evidence.
• Review and apply theories of discrimination and theories of proof.
• Augment your understanding of the application of the Fair Housing Act to insurance and mortgage lending.

Week Five (cost- $1,500) - Register
Learn how to develop a case for litigation and participate in a fair housing trial. Write a comprehensive essay, take the final exam and earn NFHTA certification. Participants funded through the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) must take the courses in sequential order.  Week Four must be completed prior to attending Week Five.

Courses offered in Week Five:
Litigating Fair Housing Cases
Advanced Seminar on Emerging Issues
Take-Home Essay and Final Exam

Litigating Fair Housing Cases:  A week long course that provides an understanding of how to develop a case for litigation, including preserving evidence, chain of custody, preparing for a deposition and preparing for effective testimony. The first 3 days of the course are focused on litigation and provides the opportunity to participate in, and observe, the trial of a fair housing case. 

In this course, you learn to:

• Explain the purpose and importance of an accurate intake through investigation and analysis of a fair housing complaint.
• Analyze a specific mortgage lending case.
• Take appropriate steps in preserving documents, other evidence and maintaining a chair of custody.
• Identify tips, tools and methods in an investigation that provides the basis for giving effective testimony in a deposition or trial.
• Hold a practical hands-on “mock-trial” that enhances factual knowledge of a case from an investigative and legal perspective.

Essay and Final Exam:
Complete the final week of the NFHTA Core Curriculum Training with a comprehensive essay and final exam.

Advance Seminar on Emerging Issues:
A Friday morning session with guest speakers focusing on special topics, significant current issues in fair housing, and on new guidance.

Graduation Ceremony:
Students completing the 5 week NFHTA core curriculum will participate in a graduation ceremony mid-day Friday and receive certificates reflecting this accomplishment.

Advanced Courses
NFHTA offers the following advanced courses:
Accessibility for Investigators
Advanced Conciliation for Investigators
Advanced Intake for Investigators
The Leadership Challenge for Fair Housing Leaders
Fair Housing Enforcement for Public Sector Attorneys
Mortgage Lending Discrimination and Predatory Lending

Accessibility for Investigators (Cost:  $695  )
Join the National Fair Housing Training Academy in Washington, D.C. for a two-day course on Accessibility for Investigators. This interactive course provides attorneys, investigators, and educators with a comprehensive overview of the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and discusses the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act to accessibility in fair housing cases.
This course provides participants with:

• the skills and tools necessary to assist investigators and others to identify the application of various accessibility laws,
• identify the scoping requirements of these laws,
• recognize the applicable accessibility standards and conduct an investigation,
• write a determination and identify appropriate remedies.

In Accessibility for Investigators, you learn to:

• Investigate the four basic elements of jurisdiction in design and construction cases under the Fair Housing Act.
• Identify “covered multifamily dwellings” and the scoping requirements of the Fair Housing Act’s design and construction requirements.
• Understand the components of a preliminary investigation of allegations contained in a design and construction complaint.
• Understand and describe the use of typical devices to conduct relevant measurements in accessibility cases.
• Conduct and document an investigative on-site survey of covered multifamily dwellings for potential violations of the Act.
• Recognize potential violations of the ADA and Section 504 during an investigation of Fair Housing Act violations.
• Develop skills in recognizing potential defenses to a design and construction complaint and appropriate responses.
• Identify the components of a well-written determination in a design and construction case. Be able to draft an agreement containing appropriate remedies for a design and construction case.

Register
Conciliation for Investigators  (Cost:  $895 )
The goal of this three-day course is to apply HUD’s requirements for conciliation efforts to developing successful conciliation strategies and agreements.
Participants will learn:

• Produce work that reflects critical and creative thought relative to conciliation.
• Communicate and collaborate with others in the processes of role-playing and presenting scenarios on conciliation and other forms of dispute resolution.
• Use technology and research to assess, collect and organize information to solve real disputes via conciliation.
• Analyze and evaluate ethical problems encountered in the conciliation.
• Training will focus not only on basic methods of conciliation but include real life examples of issues that a conciliator might encounter.
• On first day of class, investigators will receive a case file to review and develop for a simulated conciliation session at the conclusion of the course work.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between various conciliation techniques.
• Critique the value of the various forms of conciliation
• Assess the problems and opportunities associated with conciliation.
• Analyze the importance of developing and implementing dispute resolution strategies.
• Acquire the skills necessary to successfully conciliate matters.
• Critically analyze and assess the present dispute resolution application in fair housing, including private, court-annexed and court-sponsored programs.
• Examine personal strengths and weaknesses as conciliators.
• Conciliate actual disputes and apply theoretical concepts to the day-to-day community service situations in which they find themselves.

Register

Advanced Intake for Investigators (cost $695): 
This 2 day course covers the essential elements of thorough and comprehensive fair housing intake, including jurisdiction, the complaint process, forms and questionnaires, documenting intake and investigation in the complaint file using the Title Eight Automated Paperless Office Tracking System (TEAPOTS), and expands on special issues related to the intake process, such as sexual harassment, 1^st Amendment issues, prompt judicial action, and others.

Course objectives include:

• Develop a basic understanding of fair housing laws, and unfair treatment vs. discrimination
• Develop an understanding of the jurisdictional elements of a fair housing complaint
• Develop an understanding of what constitutes a violation of fair housing law
• Develop a working knowledge and understanding of the fair housing complaint process
• Develop an understanding of the basic tenets of conciliation
• Provide customer service that is culturally competent
• Develop and understand relevant forms and questionnaires
• Develop and understand relevant information to document damages

Register

The Leadership Challenge Workshop For Fair Housing Leaders (Cost:  $1,800 )
This five day workshop is designed to develop fair housing leadership skills and a comprehensive and cutting edge approach for challenging residential segregation and promoting housing integration. The workshop is about the practices leaders use to foster diversity; promote fair housing; reduce housing discrimination; preserve dignity and human rights; and refuse to tolerate non-compliance. In essence it is about leadership in fair housing and the commitment to justice of fighting discriminatory practices.
Participants will learn and translate the five practices of exemplary leaders:

• Model the Way,
• Inspire a Shared Vision,
• Challenge the Process,
• Enable Others to Act, and
• Encourage the Heart to relate to fair housing.

Each practice will be presented in a module. Model the Ways that will clarify fair housing practices and set the example by aligning action plans. Inspire a Shared Vision will show how to enlist others to build fair housing coalitions to achieve shared aspirations. Challenge the Process involves the ability to search for opportunities to combat discrimination in housing. Enable Others to Act involves the ability to foster collaboration and lead fair housing staffs toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission and goals. Encourage the Heart involves recognizing contributions and celebrating the values and victories in fair housing.
The participants will be able to:

• Communicate the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.
• Translate the Five Practices to relate to Fair Housing.
• Demonstrate the Practices and related Commitments of Leadership through behavior.
• Provide direction and support to fair housing customers, teams, colleagues.
• Work effectively with diverse generations and cultures in fair housing.
• Manage Fair Housing human, financial and information resources strategically influence and negotiate change in the fair housing industry

Register
NEW COURSE OFFERING
Fair Housing Enforcement for Public Sector Attorneys (Cost: $1,500)
This 5-day course is specifically designed for public agency and government senior managers, agency directors, investigative supervisors, and attorneys.

Topics covered include: Jurisdiction; appropriate parties; defenses; theories of proof and burdens of proof; specific evidentiary issues; affirmatively furthering fair housing; the roles of attorneys, investigators and agency/complaint representation; protection of the public interest; intervention, ethical considerations; elements and evidentiary considerations in proving damages; the concepts of reasonable and probable cause; elements of determinations; and drafting charges and complaints. Register Now

Lending Discrimination and Predatory Lending  (Cost:  $1,800 )
Join the National Fair Housing Training Academy in Washington, D.C. for a five-day course, Lending Discrimination and Predatory Lending. This course provides a hands-on approach to investigating complaints of residential mortgage lending discrimination and predatory lending and discusses how to determine the laws and regulations that may provide remedial relief to aggrieved borrowers. This course provides the skills and tools necessary to assist FHAP agencies, fair housing organizations, and fair housing investigators in addressing the complexities involved in systematically enforcing claims of lending discrimination cases.
In Lending Discrimination and Predatory Lending, you:

• Receive practical training on processing mortgage lending discrimination complaints, including preparation of an actual investigative plan and data request letter.
• Identify and analyze comparable loan files using a lender’s Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Report and applicable loan programs and underwriting standards.
• Provide a framework for identifying violations of laws under the umbrella term of “predatory lending”.
• Review the various lending laws, including the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), The Home Ownership and Equity Protection Reinvestment Act (CRA), and Title XI of the Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), and
• Determine how to detect violations of these laws from loan file records and other circumstances of a lending transaction.
• Identify predatory lending practices subject to challenge under anti-fraud statues, including the FTC Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) and state consumer protection statutes.

Register

 

The National Fair Housing Training Academy was established to provide the highest level of professional training for practitioners in the field of civil rights and equal housing opportunity. In addition to establishing credentials as a civil rights fair housing professional, completion of the prescribed five week curriculum through the Academy offers benefits that include:

• A practical means of assessing fair housing skills and experience.
• The satisfaction of measuring oneself against the highest industry standards.
• Membership in a distinctive peer group made up of fellow fair housing professionals.
• Recognition for specialized knowledge in varied civil rights specialty areas.
• The opportunity to test your knowledge in a specific area of the profession by earning a proficiency certificate.
• Help in career advancement and compensation.

For practitioners with at least two years experience in the civil rights field, the Academy offers a Test Out option for Week One and Week Two of the core curriculum. "Experience" means that the individual has been personally engaged in investigations on a full-time basis, or as his or her primary duty. Included is:

• Experience as a fair housing/civil rights investigator in the public or private sector.
• Experience with government, or other organizations performing duties and responsibilities substantively related to investigations.
• Experience as a supervisor or director who is responsible for the case management of fair housing/civil rights investigations.

This document establishes within NFHTA a competency-based testing protocol developed to recognize experienced fair housing industry professionals who meet baseline investigator competency standards established by the National Fair Housing Training Academy.
 
Test out examinations will be administered during the year and advertised in our registration system. All test out examinations will be proctored for quality assurance.
Applicants within a 50 mile radius of the Academy campus will be expected to take the examination on-site.  Applicants outside the 50 mile radius must take the examination at an approved proctoring site. Standard proctoring sites include testing facilities at other accredited colleges or universities, local schools, public libraries, U.S. military bases, or government training facilities. Applicants are responsible for paying proctor fees.

Applicants will be provided with a list of approved proctoring sites available within a 50 mile radius of their address.  Applicants will be responsible for making all arrangements and appointments to take the exam.  Applicants must get the Proctoring Application and Approval Form completed and returned to the Academy no later than 10 business days before the scheduled examination.

Standard approved proctors include professional librarians; testing center officials, online education administrators, college or university faculty; K-12 teachers, administrators, or counselors; testing control or unit education officers; and U.S. embassy officials. Relatives, clergy, employers, and co-workers are not acceptable proctors.

Following completion of the written examination, practitioners will be notified by letter whether they passed or failed. The practitioner must score 80% or better on the exam in order to pass. In the event that a practitioner fails the examination, the applicant may not apply to retake the examination. The practitioner must attend and successfully complete the Week One and Week Two Course before attending the remaining core curriculum; Week 3, Week 4, and Week 5.

Fees and Payment Submission
Students must register online. Once NFHTA receives the registration request, the student will receive via email the Test Out application form. A Test Out fee of $500 must accompany this application. Checks should be payable to the National Fair Housing Training Academy in U.S. dollars.  Applications with payments are due 10 days prior to the examination date in order to ensure compliance with all provisions of the testing protocol process.

 

The Patricia Roberts Harris National Fair Housing Training Academy is pleased to announce Week 1 and Week 2 Investigation Training is now available online. These courses are offered through NFHTALearn, NFHTA's elearning system and are asynchronous. This asynchronous elearning makes it possible for students to log on to NFHTALearn at any time and work through guided lessons and download documents, contribute to class discussions through the course forums, or send messages to teachers or peers.

The classes are offered on a fixed schedule.  The material covered is equivalent to that in the on-site courses.  Students have 4 weeks to complete the materials, assignments, and tests.   Each course has a dedicated instructor who will interact with students, answer questions, and review and provide feedback on student progress.  Students can interact with each other as well on the course forum.

Register for online courses.

The National Fair Housing Training Academy is offering FHIP grantees an opportunity to sample NFHTA courses with a FHIP- only training special. Fair Housing Initiative Program Participants can attend the first 3 days of WEEK 3 at a discounted price of $895 per person without being required to have first attended Weeks 1 and 2 of the core curriculum.
The following three courses are included in this special:

Accessibility, Reasonable Accommodation and Modification:
This one-day course provides participants with the basic historical and legal framework for application of the principles of reasonable accommodations, reasonable modifications, and accessibility as a part of investigation of housing discrimination based on disability. In Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications, you learn to:

• Effectively understand the origin of disability rights concepts and principles.
• Describe and apply four major federal laws prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities.
• Understand and apply the concepts of the prima facie case and appropriate defenses during intake, investigation, and trials involving denials of reasonable accommodations and refusals to make reasonable modifications.
• Identify the scope and the accessibility design requirements for newly constructed multifamily housing under the Fair Housing Act.

The Psychological Impact of Discrimination:
A one-day exploration of the psychological harm and other injuries caused by illegal discrimination. In this course, you learn to:
• Recognize the types of damages that may be available under fair housing laws
• Discuss ways in which psychological harm is manifested in victims of discrimination
• Identify the ways to investigate and document injury in the course of an investigation.
• Identify some of the personal and psychological challenges that are experienced by victims of racial discrimination

Standards for Testing Cases:
This one-day course will help FHIP participants understand how investigators examine and analyze testing evidence in an investigation. This course gives participants a brief introduction to testing standards and focuses on the skills needed to determine whether a test has been properly conducted and how to read and analyze testing results.
In this course, you learn to:
• Understand the legal authority for testing in fair housing cases.
• Explain the general role testing plays in an investigation and basics of testing methodology.
• Describe situations when testing may or may not be effective.
• Explain what an investigator should look for in testing data.