National Healthy Homes Training Center and Network: building capacity for healthy homes

Abstract

Recognizing the need to build a cadre of health care and housing professionals prepared to make homes healthier, in 2003, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in partnership with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development launched the National Healthy Homes Training Center and Network (Training Center). Through a competitive process, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention selected the National Center for Healthy Housing to host and manage the Training Center. The Training Center has flourished with additional support from US Environmental Protection Agency. The training incorporates interventions known to be most effective and helps to disseminate best practices. By 2010, it: developed a curriculum of 8 courses including 1 online course; trained more than 6500 people; credentialed more than 380 people as Healthy Homes specialists; delivered more than 220 one- or two-day trainings in 40 states; grew from 5 to 25 state or regional training partners covering 40 states; and created an extensive Web site of resources at www.healthyhomestraining.org.