2011 Hosting Wrap Up Survey Results
From AFSWiki
In October 2011, a survey was sent in order to gather feedback from volunteers about successes and challenges faced this past hosting season.
Thank you to everyone that took the time to complete the survey! Almost 300 active hosting volunteers responded. To download the results summary, click here.
Survey topics:
1) Host family lead generation and management
2) Hosting processes
3) Team health and support
4) Application process
5) Schools
Recipient overview:
872 active hosting vols received survey invite
Responded (partial/complete): 280 (15/265)
Response rate: 32%
71% (compared to 65% in 2010) thought it more difficult to find families in 2011 than previous years.
82% feel valued and appreciated as an AFS hosting volunteer.
66% said their team made a greater effort to start hosing efforts earlier.
44% are very concerned about their team's ability to find an adequate amount of replacement families.
Why families didn't host (internal reasons): No change from 2010
Most frequent reasons are financial limitations, lack of time or lack of space.
Reasons never given the most included wanting to be paid, privacy issues and couldn't choose stu from available pool.
Why families couldn't host (external reasons): No change from 2010
Most frequent reason was school had met quota.
Reasons never given the most included stu rejected placement, family lived outside supportable area and family was rejected by AFS.
Lead generation/management:
Economy was biggest roadblock to generating leads, followed by school acceptance, not enough volunteers and having to fully screen families before giving access to full student applications.
Personal networking was the most effective lead generation strategy. Many of the other strategies listed were not used. No change from 2010
An average of 6 volunteers per team actively recruited families.
50% of volunteers spent 0-10 hours on average per week working on hosting during the height of the season.
37% were always able to call a lead within 24 hours of receiving interest form.
31% (up from 22% in 2010) never used GL to manage leads.
For those who follow up with leads, 19% provided updates to staff once a week (41% N/A).
For those who follow up with leads, 33% do not prefer staff pre-screen leads (36% N/A).
Schools:
50% thought it was more difficult to secure school spots in 2011 compared to previous years.
The most frequently heard reason why schools wouldn't accept stu was they had already reached exchange stu limit. No change from 2010
6 other reasons listed were never heard for more than 50% of respondents. No change from 2010
54% attempted to recruit families specifically around school closing dates.
57% did not use additional private school money.
Stu applications:
62% did not see a difference in the student application distribution method.
64% did not see a difference in the new goal setting method.
