Training & Outreach Committee

Co-Chairs

Liaison

Debi Heiden, CFM
Black & Veatch
710 2nd Ave. Ste. 1160
Seattle, WA 98104
206-344-3891
heidendh@bv.com

Vacant

Tom Blanchard
NY Dept. of Env. Conservation
1150 N. Westcott Rd.
Schenectady, NY 12306
518-357-2379 / Fax -2398
teblanch@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Building Public Support for Floodplain Management - A Catalog of Good Practices (.pdf) 04/08

The draft is available for review and comment until May 9, 2008. If you have comments, suggestions, new stories, examples, or lessons learned, please send them on to the Principal Investigator, French Wetmore, at FrenchAsoc@aol.com by May 9, 2008.

ASFPM Multi-Year Training Strategy

Background

An ASFPM assessment of the environment and current issues identified the desire and need for the development and deployment of training to floodplain managers, and especially Certified Floodplain Managers (CFMs), as a critical issue. Two surveys, one conducted by the Certification Board of Regents of CFMs and one sent to all ASFPM members supported this conclusion. Given that CFMs have been growing at a double digit rate annually, there is a demand for training opportunities to meet the Continuing Education Credits requirements for CFMs. The ASFPM Board has adopted this strategy and made its implementation a top priority.

Currently there are several entities within ASFPM that are involved at least somewhat in training: The Certification Board of Regents, the Public Education and Professional Development Policy Committees, the staff in the Executive Office, and various individuals. It will take the collective efforts of all of these, and collaboration with others such as FEMA, EMI, other federal agencies, ASFPM Chapters, States, consultants and other partners to implement this training strategy. To be effective, the roles of each must be clarified and relationships identified to avoid unnecessary duplication and encourage ownership of individual goals and sub-goals.

Vision Statement

Develop and coordinate a consistent and comprehensive training curriculum and delivery system for floodplain managers in order to reduce flood damages in the nation and protect and enhance natural and beneficial functions of the nation’s floodplains.

Goal 1: Identify training opportunities a body of knowledge for floodplain management that will provide a progression of training and promote floodplain management as a profession

1.1 Define a “body of knowledge” that promotes floodplain management as a profession
1.2 Identify needed “advanced” FPM training courses for floodplain managers
1.3 Develop materials to help elected officials and managers understand the advantages of having CFMs in their community

Goal 2: Develop and Deploy Training for Local Officials

2.1: Assist FEMA in their plan to update and revise E-273 (FPM 101), including half-day modules, within 12 months

• Help each state or Chapter to tailor E-273 as necessary to reflect state laws and standards
• Assist states and Chapters to deploy the course as requested or as funding becomes available

2.2: Work with others to coordinate the development of one specialized training module each year for the next three years
2.3: Develop and/or approve 3 training modules annually for web-based distribution through ASFPM's provider agreement with RedVector.com

Goal 3: Develop Map Modernization Training Modules

3.1 In cooperation with FEMA and the NSP address key issues like use of digitized a maps, etc. and deploy sessions through Chapters and states

Goal 4: Develop and Deploy Training for State Staff Involved in FPM

4.1: Develop mentoring program for new NFIP coordinators based on the Effective State Programs and State and Local Programs 2003 documents and deploy to SCs.
4.2: Develop peer review process for state programs based on the Effective State Programs document to incorporate state-specific floodplain management programs
4.3: Develop, in coordination with FEMA, a training module to train states how to effectively deliver the CAP- SSSE program utilizing their 5-year floodplain management plan and mapping business plan

Goal 5: Develop and Coordinate Training for Federal Agency Staff Involved in FPM

5.1: Develop specialized training for federal agency staff to explain state authorities and programs utilizing the Effective State Programs and State and Local Programs 2003 documents.
5.2: Coordinate one regional-federal agency integration meeting annually

Goal 6: Develop and Coordinate Training for Private and Public Groups and Organizations Interested in FPM

6.1: Coordinate CFM and Certified Floodplain Surveyor (being developed through ACSM) to effectively work together (Relates to the LOMA issue)
6.2: Develop specialized training modules for other professionals (engineers, lawyers, insurance agents, lenders, realtors, etc.)

Goal 7: Have ASFPM website serve as "library" for FPM materials.

7.1: Develop "library" for FPM materials and references on ASFPM website

Goal 8: Work with FEMA and EMI to develop “master trainer” courses that could lead to a “CFM Instructor” certification level.

8.1: Develop and conduct train-the-trainer modules at annual ASFPM conference and at EMI---some for specific courses—some just to train how to train

Goal 9: Develop NAI Training Modules (may already be developed in Goals 2 or 6)

9.1: Develop training modules based on the NAI toolkit, one for each building block

Goal 10: Provide leadership training opportunities for ASFPM members to create a more Effective organization and foster professionalism

10.1: Provide new member orientation about who ASFPM is and what we do (at annual conf)
10.1: Conduct training session on building effective Chapters at every annual conf

Download the ASFPM Multi-Year Training Strategy as a .pdf

2007 - 2008 Goals & Objectives

1. Establish a training library.

2. Deploy Floodplain Management 101 in coordination with States/Chapters/Associations.

3. Increase communication about training opportunities across the States.

4. Support opportunities for using media and e-learning, such as web conferencing.

5. Integrate public education and outreach resources.

2006 - 2007 Status Report

Training Library

Tom Blanchard is coordinating the Training Library discussion. At the 2006 National Conference, the Training Committee discussed several ideas related to the training library including conducting an inventory of training that is being delivered. Other discussion items from the training library include framework for sharing the material, handouts from the training, how will material be distributed, catalog of training material, and standard format for submission of material. Additional discussion of the training library can be found in the Notes from previous Training Committee calls and meetings of June 14, 2006, September 21, 2006, November 16, 2006, and March 15, 2007.

Summary of training information compiled from state 5-year plans, January 2007

Training committee members compiled information from the State 5-year plans as it relates to training. The 5-year plans were written under guidance provided by FEMA and as a requirement of the CAP SSSE funding as a strategic planning document to allow states to plan for the influx of communities participating in the NFIP and community enrollment related to the Map Modernization Initiative. While guidance for writing the 5-year plans was provided by FEMA and that guidance included a training component, states did not necessarily write their plans with the intent that ASFPM would use them in analyzing training. Given this caveat, it is exciting to glean the importance of training as illustrated from the 5-year plans as it relates to training.

The summary reflected the concept of training being reported as “workshops,” “seminars,” or “training.” Specifically, general information was given that identified audiences for the trainings, the number of workshops offered and the hours for the workshops, name of workshops, partnering opportunities, GAP analysis, and accreditation with other organizations beyond ASFPM for the CFM CECs. The summary illustrated that partnering opportunities, audiences receiving training, as well as training topics across the country are very comprehensive and diverse.

This summary was shared with State Floodplain Coordinators and Chapters/Associations with an invitation for any assistance ASFPM may offer to the State/Chapter/Association with regard to training. Responses were received from New York, Indiana, Iowa, and Oklahoma.

Development of Training and Tools to Build CFMs Capability and Knowledge

Executive Director Larry Larson requested a proposal from the Certification Board of Regents and the Training Committee on utilizing revenues generated from the CFM program to increase floodplain management capability. The Training Committee provided the following proposal to the ASFPM Board of Directors who subsequently approved the plan at their Fall Board Retreat. The proposal follows:

• Development of a 101 course with speaker notes and distribution materials
• Identify a cadre of trainers and conduct a train-the-trainer for those trainers and get them into the field to teach the 101 course

Floodplain Management 101 at Norfolk Conference

In response to the above proposal and at the request of the Executive office, the Training Committee developed a Floodplain Management 101 course to be delivered first at the ASFPM National Conference and then field delivered after the National Conference. The Development of an ASFPM Floodplain Management 101 course with speaker notes and distribution materials will allow for uniformity in delivery, message, and information provided as part of the training. As part of the above proposal, a small group of trainers will be given a “train-the-trainer” training to deliver this course and the course will be field delivered at various locations around the country.