Housing Counseling Process Evaluation and Design of ... - HUD User

Exhibit 9-2 shows the percent of agencies reporting a need for national standards by each of the four
categories of standards listed above, across all counseling types. Agency support is greatest for
certification standards for staff and for curriculum standards for education sessions. Given the likely
importance of the knowledge and skill of educators and counselors in determining the quality of
services provided, standards for staff would be an important component of quality standards.
Exhibit 9-2.
Percent of Agencies Reporting a Need for National Standards, by Category of
Standards
60%
50%
48%
44%
Percent of Agencies
40%
30%
20%
33%
25%
10%
0%
Certification Curriculum standards Data tracking and Formal service
standards for staff for education reporting standards delivery standards
sessions
Source: Abt Associates survey of HUD-approved counseling agencies.
Note: Based on survey responses of 1,067 agencies.
Comparing agency support for national standards across agency mission type, counseling
specialization, and agency size, we find that consumer credit counseling agencies and agencies whose
primary mission is housing or neighborhood development, as well as agencies specializing in
homeownership-related counseling, are most likely to report a need for national standards of one type
or another (Exhibit 9-3). Agencies that specialize in rental or homeless counseling are least likely to
see a need for national standards. Support for national standards does not vary substantially by
agency size.
150
Chapter 9. Policy Considerations