Recruiting, Selecting Recruiting, Selecting and Training Host and Training Host

FamiliesFamilies

Bobbe Fitzhugh, ChairmanCowboy Country Youth ExchangeD5440 USAbobbefitzhugh@gmail.com

Recruiting Host FamiliesRecruiting Host Families

We usually have more high quality We usually have more high quality students than we can find places forstudents than we can find places for

If it were only so easy with Host If it were only so easy with Host Families! Families!

RI requirements for Host Family RI requirements for Host Family Screening add to the complicationsScreening add to the complications

How do we find host families for How do we find host families for these really great kids?these really great kids?

What is the most important thing What is the most important thing about hosting a student?about hosting a student?

Adults often cite material things – no Adults often cite material things – no time, no children at home, time, no children at home, insufficient finances, no room, “we insufficient finances, no room, “we are boring” are boring”

The students ALWAYS offer The students ALWAYS offer emotional issues… “love me, care emotional issues… “love me, care about me, nurture me”about me, nurture me”

INVOLVE STUDENTS WITH INVOLVE STUDENTS WITH CLUB MEMBERSCLUB MEMBERS

The more your membership (including spouses) The more your membership (including spouses) knows about the students, the better the chances knows about the students, the better the chances of their being interested to be host families. of their being interested to be host families.

Have student attend club meetings and activities Have student attend club meetings and activities on a regular basis. on a regular basis.

Have student give short presentation early on in Have student give short presentation early on in their exchange. The talk should focus on their their exchange. The talk should focus on their background, interests, hobbies, and skills. background, interests, hobbies, and skills.

Follow up with brief bio on student, including how Follow up with brief bio on student, including how he or she can be contacted and pass this out to he or she can be contacted and pass this out to the membershipthe membership

PROGRAM PROMOTIONPROGRAM PROMOTION

Have social YE program each yearHave social YE program each year Include committee, student, families, Include committee, student, families,

outbound and rebound students outbound and rebound students Have information on the program Have information on the program

available, including the importance available, including the importance of protection policies.of protection policies.

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATIONNEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

Schedule YE orientations for new Schedule YE orientations for new membersmembers

Explain program and hosting Explain program and hosting opportunitiesopportunities

Ask if they know of another family, Ask if they know of another family, perhaps a relative or neighbor, that perhaps a relative or neighbor, that might be interested.might be interested.

Talk to them!Talk to them!

INBOUND STUDENT INBOUND STUDENT APPLICATIONAPPLICATION

Review application for background Review application for background and interestsand interests

If student lists running or biking, he If student lists running or biking, he can be placed with a family who can be placed with a family who enjoys this activity. enjoys this activity.

A student who is an accomplished A student who is an accomplished pianist could fit in with a family pianist could fit in with a family active in the local symphony.active in the local symphony.

INBOUND STUDENT CONTACTSINBOUND STUDENT CONTACTS

The inbound students often have The inbound students often have made friendships that lead to host made friendships that lead to host families. families.

Ask for their recommendationsAsk for their recommendations

OUTBOUND STUDENT OUTBOUND STUDENT ORIENTATIONORIENTATION

Host family options should be discussed at Host family options should be discussed at outbound student orientation. outbound student orientation.

Families may decide that the outbound Families may decide that the outbound program is not for them at that time, but program is not for them at that time, but they may agree to host an inbound they may agree to host an inbound student later. student later.

Ask the family to agree to recruit possible Ask the family to agree to recruit possible host family if they are not able or willing to host family if they are not able or willing to host.host.

ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF ROTARYROTARY

Church. Talk to the priest / minister / rabbi Church. Talk to the priest / minister / rabbi and ask for their help in identifying and ask for their help in identifying potential families.potential families.

Fraternal Organizations: Elks, Moose, Fraternal Organizations: Elks, Moose, Lions have active community minded Lions have active community minded memberships. Ask to address their club memberships. Ask to address their club and explain the program. and explain the program.

Athletic Clubs: Baseball, basketball, etc. Athletic Clubs: Baseball, basketball, etc. are great sources of families.are great sources of families.

High school counselors and foreign High school counselors and foreign language teachers can be a source of language teachers can be a source of recommendations.recommendations.

Getting Repeat Host FamiliesGetting Repeat Host Families Do you give your Host Families a good orientation (or for Do you give your Host Families a good orientation (or for

that matter, any orientation)?that matter, any orientation)? Do you check in frequently with them to see how the Do you check in frequently with them to see how the

hosting is going?hosting is going? Do you offer to provide a “break” for the family by taking Do you offer to provide a “break” for the family by taking

student for a week-end?student for a week-end? Do you invite the Host Family to Rotary meetings and Do you invite the Host Family to Rotary meetings and

functions as a guest of the Rotary Club?functions as a guest of the Rotary Club? Do you introduce Host Families as honored guests?Do you introduce Host Families as honored guests? Do you do an exit interview of your Host Families after the Do you do an exit interview of your Host Families after the

hosting is complete?hosting is complete? Do you send a note of thanks and a small gift to the Host Do you send a note of thanks and a small gift to the Host

Families?Families?

Letter to Potential FamiliesLetter to Potential FamiliesDear:Dear:

Our club will be hosting a youth Our club will be hosting a youth exchange student this coming year. exchange student this coming year. We need host families! We need host families! Think you Think you might be interested? Read on!might be interested? Read on!

We have received the application of We have received the application of <NAME> from <COUNTRY>. <STUDENT> <NAME> from <COUNTRY>. <STUDENT> will be <AGE>upon arrival in August . will be <AGE>upon arrival in August . <NAME> loves <swimming, bike riding <NAME> loves <swimming, bike riding and roller-skating>. She’s into and roller-skating>. She’s into photography and lists J.R.R. Tolkien as her photography and lists J.R.R. Tolkien as her favorite author. <NAME> would like to be favorite author. <NAME> would like to be an English translator or a computer an English translator or a computer graphics designer. She comes from graphics designer. She comes from <CITY>, a city of 90,000 people, where <CITY>, a city of 90,000 people, where she lives with her parents and a younger she lives with her parents and a younger sister.sister.

Our family has hosted a total of Our family has hosted a total of <NUMBER> students. All students <NUMBER> students. All students have enriched our lives and while have enriched our lives and while some have been challenging, all some have been challenging, all have been rewarding have been rewarding experiences. experiences.

The Excuses!The Excuses! Don’t think you have room; be creative! Don’t think you have room; be creative!

Each time an older sister or brother moves into Each time an older sister or brother moves into our house, the girls gladly give up one or the our house, the girls gladly give up one or the other of their bedrooms. other of their bedrooms. If possible, it is If possible, it is desirable that the student has his/her own room desirable that the student has his/her own room but this is not absolutely necessary. but this is not absolutely necessary.

Think your life is too boring? Think your life is too boring? All of this is All of this is new to these kids; they won’t be bored!new to these kids; they won’t be bored! Host Host families share our culture with the student as it families share our culture with the student as it exists in everyday life. This does not mean exists in everyday life. This does not mean elaborate entertainment; it does mean making a elaborate entertainment; it does mean making a visitor a part of your family with the opportunity visitor a part of your family with the opportunity to share in all aspects - home, school, community to share in all aspects - home, school, community and nation - “warts and all.”and nation - “warts and all.”

Not sure how to entertain a student?Not sure how to entertain a student? The student should not be treated as a The student should not be treated as a special guest. They are expected to assist special guest. They are expected to assist with household responsibilities as any with household responsibilities as any other child in the family does. Students other child in the family does. Students are encouraged to become involved in are encouraged to become involved in school and community activities.school and community activities.

What? You don’t speak Czech? What? You don’t speak Czech? Most Most exchange students will have studied exchange students will have studied English, sometimes to a considerable English, sometimes to a considerable extent. But, to even the best students, it extent. But, to even the best students, it will be a "foreign" tongue, a language will be a "foreign" tongue, a language learned from books rather than daily use. learned from books rather than daily use. Patience and understanding will be Patience and understanding will be important. important.

Think you can’t afford to host a student? Think you can’t afford to host a student? Our Our Club will provide the student with a monthly Club will provide the student with a monthly stipend for miscellaneous expenses. The stipend for miscellaneous expenses. The student's own family is expected to provide funds student's own family is expected to provide funds for clothing, travel or other expenses. The host for clothing, travel or other expenses. The host family is expected to pay for the student's family is expected to pay for the student's activities with the family and there will be some activities with the family and there will be some extra expenses to the host family such as meals, extra expenses to the host family such as meals, gas, extra school outings, haircuts, etc. This is gas, extra school outings, haircuts, etc. This is like adding another child to your family for a short like adding another child to your family for a short period of time.period of time.

Not sure you have time to be a host parent? Not sure you have time to be a host parent? Hosts should expect to help their students meet Hosts should expect to help their students meet Rotary obligations. The student should attend Rotary obligations. The student should attend Rotary meetings and functions. These occasions Rotary meetings and functions. These occasions are an important feature of the exchange, part of are an important feature of the exchange, part of the plan's ambassadorial aspect.the plan's ambassadorial aspect.

The Host Family is under no obligation to provide The Host Family is under no obligation to provide the student with travel experiences. However, if the student with travel experiences. However, if possible it is beneficial to have the student possible it is beneficial to have the student accompany the family on trips or vacations. accompany the family on trips or vacations.

Don’t have children living at home any Don’t have children living at home any more? more? Some of the best host families are Some of the best host families are “empty nesters” or single-parent families. “empty nesters” or single-parent families. Students should be exposed to a variety of Students should be exposed to a variety of different host family situations. different host family situations.

Don’t like the idea of having to be Don’t like the idea of having to be subject to a background check?subject to a background check? Put Put yourself in the shoes of the student’s yourself in the shoes of the student’s natural parents – wouldn’t you want that natural parents – wouldn’t you want that assurance that the family has been assurance that the family has been checked out a bit?checked out a bit?

Letter – the CloseLetter – the Close The job of hosting a student required tact, The job of hosting a student required tact,

sympathy and patience. But its rewards are sympathy and patience. But its rewards are great in terms of widening views and great in terms of widening views and understandings. You will get to know, and love, understandings. You will get to know, and love, someone from another country, another culture, someone from another country, another culture, and another part of the world. You will have the and another part of the world. You will have the opportunity to watch, and help shape, the opportunity to watch, and help shape, the development and maturity of a young person. development and maturity of a young person. You will have opportunities to learn of another You will have opportunities to learn of another culture yourself, and in the process of sharing our culture yourself, and in the process of sharing our culture and our country with this student, gain culture and our country with this student, gain knowledge and understanding for you and your knowledge and understanding for you and your family. And at the end of the exchange, you will family. And at the end of the exchange, you will have added to your family a son or daughter who have added to your family a son or daughter who may live in a “foreign” country the rest of their may live in a “foreign” country the rest of their life, but will always be a part of life, but will always be a part of youryour family. family.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these students. for these students.

““Open your heart, and the rest will Open your heart, and the rest will follow” follow”

Yours in Rotary,Yours in Rotary,

Youth Exchange ChairmanYouth Exchange Chairman

Selecting Host Families Selecting Host Families Procedures and Criteria to Select: Procedures and Criteria to Select: Completed Volunteer Affidavit for all family members age Completed Volunteer Affidavit for all family members age

18 or over18 or over Volunteer Affidavits Submitted to District Protection Officer. Volunteer Affidavits Submitted to District Protection Officer.

Date Submitted: _________________ Date Submitted: _________________ Host Family Application completedHost Family Application completed Interviewed all family members in the home Interviewed all family members in the home

Date of interview: _________________Date of interview: _________________ References checkedReferences checked Family is of good reputation and characterFamily is of good reputation and character Family can provide comfortable and nurturing environment Family can provide comfortable and nurturing environment

to studentto student Family has adequate financial resources to undertake Family has adequate financial resources to undertake

hosting obligations.hosting obligations. Household accommodations are adequate to house student Household accommodations are adequate to house student

comfortably.comfortably.

If I were a Rotary exchange student, would I be comfortable residing If I were a Rotary exchange student, would I be comfortable residing with this family?_______with this family?_______

Reasons_____________________________________________________________Reasons___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Selected (Yes or No): _________Selected (Yes or No): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Club Youth Exchange OfficerClub Youth Exchange Officer

Forward this page with host family application to the student’s Forward this page with host family application to the student’s District Country Representative for authorization to place student District Country Representative for authorization to place student in this home. You may in this home. You may notnot move student into this home until move student into this home until authorization is obtained.authorization is obtained.

District AuthorizationDistrict Authorization: : Signed and dated by District Country Signed and dated by District Country RepresentativeRepresentative

Family approved for placement: Family approved for placement: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Training – Host Family OrientationTraining – Host Family Orientation

Gathering of all host families, club Gathering of all host families, club counselor, YE committee, studentcounselor, YE committee, student

Review and Provide:Review and Provide:• Student Application Student Application • RI Youth Exchange handbook RI Youth Exchange handbook • Club and District Orientation Information Club and District Orientation Information

Documents Documents • Inbound Student Rules and Conditions of Inbound Student Rules and Conditions of

Exchange Exchange • Youth Protection PolicyYouth Protection Policy

Explain:Explain: RotaryRotary Program objectivesProgram objectives Role of district and club committeesRole of district and club committees Hosting and club responsibilitiesHosting and club responsibilities Meeting the studentMeeting the student Family adjustmentsFamily adjustments SchoolSchool LanguageLanguage FinancesFinances Insurance/medical treatmentInsurance/medical treatment TravelTravel HomesicknessHomesickness Changing homesChanging homes Rotary obligations - calendar of eventsRotary obligations - calendar of events Questions or problemsQuestions or problems

Why we need host families!Why we need host families!

NAYEN Web Site ResourcesNAYEN Web Site Resources

http://http://yeoresources.org