April Fair Housing Events Success

April marked the 43rd anniversary of President Lyndon Baines Johnson signing the Fair Housing Act into law. The 2011 Fair Housing Month theme, “Live Free,” informs the public “that discrimination has no home in America and that no person should be denied housing or treated differently because of their race, color, national origin, religion, gender, family status, or disability.” - Asst. Secretary John Trasviña , April 1, 2011.
Academy Director Stella Adams and Susan Scovill, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, participated in a variety of Fair Housing Month activities. They attended events in Brunswick GA, Des Moines IA, Evansville IN, Fairfax VA, Hinesville GA, Myrtle Beach SC, Nashville TN, Orlando FL, Raleigh NC and Washington DC.
On April 13, 2011, Susan joined FHEO Assistant Secretary John Trasviña at the Fairfax County, Virginia fair housing month event. Her presentation on Fair Housing Complaints: Why People File Them & How to Avoid Them was made to approximately 160 Realtors, property managers, housing counselors, county commissioners and agency staff, and HUD staff.
Stella joined FHEO Deputy Assistant Secretary Sara Pratt and NC FHEO State Director David Youngblood who participated in the City of Raleigh’s fair housing event April 29-30, 2011.
The Academy also promoted Fair Housing Month Events submitted by its Community Partners on its website.

First Certification Examination is scheduled for July 29, 2011
The International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA), in collaboration with the Academy, and the Graduate School, will administer the first Certified Fair Housing Investigator (CFHI) certification examination on July 29, 2011.  The CFHI is a competency-based Fair Housing investigator credential developed to recognize fair housing industry professionals who meet the investigator competency standards established by IAOHRA. The CFHI credential is part of the fair housing industry and government-wide initiative to drive and improve enforcement and compliance in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Act.
The certification process is designed to ensure that investigators have the necessary knowledge and skills to competently perform critical job functions. Certification is a three step process

1. Successful completion of the 5 week core curriculum offered by the Patricia Roberts Harris National Fair Housing Training Academy (NFHTA).
2. Evaluation of investigative skills
3. Examination of investigative knowledge

Certified Fair Housing Investigator (CFHI) Eligibility
Candidates wishing to take the CFHI examination must first satisfy the following requirements:

1. Completion of the 5 week core curriculum offered by the Patricia Harris Roberts National Fair Housing Academy;
2. Two (2) years of experience;
3. Satisfactory completion of five (5) fair housing investigations
4. A letter of recommendation from the applicant's supervisor listing applicant’s job description and length of service (attach to application).

Congratulations to Week 5 Graduates

On March 4, 2011 seven students completed the five week core curriculum.  The Academy congratulates our newest graduates: Tracy Bancroft-Lasseter, Karen Dobzynski, Richard Nemchik, Jr., Margie Nichols, Luisa Portillo, Lisa A. Postell, and Alex Taylor del Cid.
Tracy Bancroft-Lasseter was one of the very first students to attend the Academy in 2005, it took her six years to complete the core curriculum.  “I started out as an investigator and now I am a manager” Bancroft-Lasseter shared with her classmates and week one students who attended the ceremony.  She stated that she had taken concepts learned from each week and incorporated them into her day to day operations.  “As a manager I am going to take the information and concepts I learned from the mock trial and apply them when I get home.”
By contrast, Karen Dobzynski began the core curriculum in June 2010 and completed the five weeks in less than a year.  “When I arrived I didn’t know what a TEAPOT was, but I know now!  I have learned so much over the last few months and I thank all of my instructors and classmates for their support.”
Dr. Alex Taylor del Cid summed up the experience of the Academy graduates “What I have learned from the instructors here at the Academy is that they have a passion for civil rights and for human rights.  They show that you can be passionate and yet be objective and neutral, enforce the law , not just for the individual suffering injustice but also for everyone.  Thank you for reinforcing my commitment to ensure everyone has equal treatment under the law.”

Online Courses Available

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.

Test-Out Options

Week 1 and Week 2 Investigation Training will be available Spring 2011.

• 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.