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HOST FAMILIES
 
Hosting International Students
 

USA Host Families

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."

1Peter 3:8 NLT

Families were God's unique idea from the beginning. There is no greater institution, no better group of people to affect positive change in the world than the family. Nowhere can the truth of God's Word be more effectively taught and modeled.

The USA host family is the primary influence on the life of the international student through his stay in the U.S. What better influence than that of a Christian family who can demonstrate the love of Christ, share their values and beliefs, and positively impact a life forever!

A Host Family is a special group of people that have made an unselfish, caring, and thoughtful commitment to take an exchange student into their home. Host Families are:

  • Of any ages and sizes, with or without teenagers
  • Warm, welcoming and open-minded
  • Proud to share their American lifestyle and language
  • Interested in learning about other cultures
  • Willing to include the student in their family and community
  • Reside within the continental United States of America
  • Of all race, color, creed, background
  • With an income sufficient to afford a comfortable standard of living and nurturing home environment

All host families are personally interviewed by USA Local Representatives. The final decision regarding the approval of a prospective host family is made by the USA Executive Director based on the host family application and the Local Representative's report.

Host Family Responsibilities

Every host family must participate in an orientation conducted by the Local Representative. At this meeting, the host family will become aware of the responsibilities that they must fulfill. These responsibilities include the following:

  • Providing the student with room and board
  • Offering a comfortable, nurturing, and loving family environment to the student (TLC Tender Love in Christ)
  • Willing to share the American lifestyle and language with the student
  • Treating the student as a family member, not as a guest
  • Showing respect for the student’s privacy
  • Concern for the student’s academic and personal growth progress
  • Ensuring the student’s welfare while he is residing with the family
  • Maintaining regular contact with USA staff and Local Representative

Benefits of Hosting

  1. Creating a bond of friendship for life
  2. Making a dream come true for an international student to live and learn in the U.S.
  3. Learning a new and different culture: language, customs, and food
  4. Welcoming a new son/daughter and sibling for your children into your home to share your lives
  5. Enjoying fun activities, such as sports and community outings
  6. Sharing your generosity, values, and beliefs to positively influence a young person’s life
  7. Becoming acquainted with another country
  8. Sharing the knowledge of your culture, lifestyle, and language with the international student
  9. Experience the wonderful rewards of volunteering to help expand global unity
  10. Helping to prepare the youth of today to take part in the world of tomorrow

If you are interested in sharing your life with a USA international student, Please call toll free:

1-877-336-HOST

Matching with a USA Student

Adapting to a new culture and a different lifestyle will bring about certain obstacles that each family and student must overcome. Precise consideration should be given to the individuality of each student’s personality, background, and lifestyle in comparison to that of the host family for a higher probability of successful adaptation.

Each host family completes an application on which they list pertinent information regarding certain preferences such as student gender and age. They also include important family information like family habits, lifestyle, size, and any additional personal information that is used to determine which student will be most compatible with the host family.

Orientation

USA places a priority on orientation meetings for the host families as well as those for the international exchange students. Issues regarding the daily life in the host family home must be discussed thoroughly with the student so that he will know what to expect. Likewise, the host family must be informed on ways to prepare for the exchange student. All families will have a personal home interview and orientation meetings to discuss rules, suggestions, etc., conducted by the Local Representative.

Pre-arrival Orientation: An orientation meeting will be scheduled at least 15 days prior to the arrival of the students to the United States. The Pre-Arrival orientation meeting will enable the host families to become better equipped to deal with and guide the students when they arrive to their new home.

The Host Family Handbook will be the primary tool used in this meeting. The following phases will be discussed:

H.O.P.E. (Handbook, Orientation, Preparation, Expectation)

C.A.R.E.(Communication, Adaptation, Relationship, Enviroment)

S.H.A.R.E.(Student's Habits Achieve Results Expected)

L.E.A.V.E. (Love Exchange Adventure, Value Experience)