Welcome
ROTARY DISTRICT 6630 YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM
HOST FAMILIES
INTRODUCTION
Acting as a host to a teenage high school Exchange Student between the ages of 15 and 18½ on the day of arrival can be a tremendously rewarding experience for a family. It also entails some important obligations. Here are some of the ground rules:
- Any household, young or senior, single or married, could qualify as a host family.
- The host family must undertake to supervise the school and leisure hour activities of the student as if he or she were their own son or daughter.
- They provide room and board and include the student in all family activities as a member of the family.
- It is desirable for the student to have his or her own room or, alternatively, to share with someone of their own age group and gender.
- It is not essential that the family have children of similar age and gender of the Exchange Student. (Many very successful hosting arrangements occur where there are only very young children or no children at all).
COUNSELOR
The host Rotary club will appoint a Counselor who will act as a confidante to the student during the exchange. The student is expected to consult the Counselor on any challenges that occur. The Counselor is also available to help the host families with any challenges that they may encounter in hosting the student. Consult the Counselor if there are problems and do not allow small problems to become big ones.
HOUSEHOLD RULES
The student is expected to adapt to the supervision and reasonable household rules of the host family. The host family does not have to adapt to the student. You will need to be aware of the challenges of cultural adaptation and should be prepared to be flexible. The host family must make clear what they expect of the student and that their household rules might different from the student’s previous host family.
ROTARY STUDENT RULES
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program has strict rules concerning student behavior. The violation of some of these rules can result in the immediate termination of the student’s exchange.
FINANCES
The host family is not obliged to provide the student with spending money or to finance clothing, travel, or other expenses including telephone calls.
- Monthly stipend: Your Rotary Club will provide the student with a monthly stipend of at least one-hundred US ($100.00) which is expected to cover incidental expenses. The student's biological family/guardian is to cover all other expenses.
- Emergency Fund: The student is required to bring with them an emergency fund of US $350 to cover major unexpected items and medical deductibles which is usually a joint account under the control of both the student and the Counselor.
- Money Problems: Some young people are better at handling money than others some students are hopeless at budgeting and need some guidance if they are to live within their monthly stipend.
SCHOOLING
The Youth Exchange Program rules and the Visa by which they enter the United States require attendance at a high school. The host family’s role is to supervise the daytoday attendance of the student at school and encourage them to participate fully in both the academic and extracurricular activities of the school.
CHANGE OF HOST FAMILIES
Rotary International recommends three hosting families over the course of the year. This may vary by club but will be made clear by the Club prior to any hosting activities. Each new host parents should have a detailed discussion with the student and to lay out reasonable house rules so that the student will know what is expected of him or her in the new family. Such a discussion can prevent misunderstandings and some frustrations and resentments at a later date.
How are Host Families screened?
- Each prospective host family is personally interviewed by their local Rotary Club. The prospective host family must complete a four page detailed Host Family Application covering the family's background, interests, hobbies and references.
- The US Department of State requires that a criminal background check be performed on each household member over the age of 18. Please note that a criminal history does not necessarily preclude a family from being qualified to host, but may serve as one of several criteria in determining whether or not a family is suitable for hosting under this program.