All types of families are encouraged to apply; there is no “typical” AFS host family. Some AFS families have children at home. Some are same sex couples. Others are empty nesters with adult children or are couples with no children at all. Single adults and single parents are also welcome. Even busy families find time to enjoy hosting AFS students!

1. Welcome your AFS student to participate in your family’s daily lives and events
2. The same care, support and comfort you provide to other members of your family, including meals.

AFS students arrive with their own spending money for social and school activities, clothes, etc. As a host family, you will not need to provide spending money or an allowance. We will discuss how school related costs are handled.

All types of families are encouraged to apply; there is no “typical” AFS Host Family. Families can have small or teenage children at home, be empty nesters with adult children, or couples with no children. Single adults and single parents are also welcome. Families shouldn’t worry about being too busy – AFS provides a great support network of volunteers who arrange activities for the exchange students; however, the more opportunity the AFS Exchange Student has to experience your life, the better!

As a host family, you will provide your student with:

• The opportunity to participate in your family’s daily lives and event
• The same care, support, and comfort you would another member of your family
• A bed, not convertible or inflatable in nature; sharing a room with a sibling of the same gender close in age is fine
• Three quality meals, including lunches and meals eaten as a family in restaurants

Yes, families can host two students at a time. Some host families decide hosting two is better than one and find the hosting experience is even more rewarding. Both students and their parents must approve this arrangement. We also require that they speak different native languages to ensure that only English is used in your home.

No, host families are not paid but are volunteering to host the participant. Your own children will also be eligible for AFS program discounts and scholarships.

No, your student will come with secondary medical insurance so that, in an emergency, the student can be treated as soon as possible. There is also a 24-hour support phone number in case of any emergency.

Yes, although AFS first gets permission from the high school to accept your exchange student. AFS works with schools to ensure exchange students are in compliance with each school’s policies and procedures. Your family will fill out the same paperwork at the school as you would for your own children. You and your student will meet with the school staff to determine the classes your student will take. AFS Volunteers can offer suggestions and assistance if needed. AFS enjoys an excellent reputation with high schools across the country, and we value a close working relationship with the schools that we serve.

AFS Volunteers have a lot of experience in placing participants with families and we provide extensive support throughout the year. However, if the placement does not work out satisfactorily, AFS assumes responsibility to move the participant to another family.

Yes. AFS students are expected to obey all the AFS rules and policies that are applicable while on their program. Should a student break a rule such as driving, hitchhiking, or partaking in illegal drugs, they will have their program terminated. Hosted participants are expected to obey all Indian laws. We also limit independent travel by students. You will be provided with a Host Family Handbook, which contains information on these rules, at or before your pre-arrival orientation for host families.

 Families receive innovative and practical advice on how to:

• Help hosted students integrate into a new culture, as well as her or his intercultural education experience outlined in the AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum.
• Provide experiences and connections to help students achieve their global and personal ambitions while abroad
• Share their culture and learn about new cultures from their hosted students.

The AFS Learning Objectives serve as the foundation for the AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey. Working through these Learning Objectives help families:

• Better understand how culture impacts perception, behavior, values and attitudes
• Consider and respect different perspectives when approaching problems and everyday situations
• Appreciate diversity and to engage, display respect for and accept people with diverse backgrounds, attitudes, opinions, lifestyles and values
• Become interested in and concerned about global affairs and aware of the impact our choices have on other people
• Explore becoming a volunteer committed to making positive change in local, national and/or global communities.

The AFS Intercultural Link Learning Program is an AFS network-wide intercultural training and assessment program designed to improve the intercultural competence of volunteers and staff, and enhance our expertise in developing this in students, host families, volunteers and others.