Host family interviewer

From AFSWiki

AFS-USA Volunteer Position Description

Contents 1 Objective: 2 Responsibilities: 3 Time Required: 4 Responsible to: 5 Competencies Required: 6 Training: 7 Works with: 8 Benefits to Volunteer: 9 See Also

Objective:

A Hosting Interviewer determines a host family’s appropriateness to host and evaluates whether the family is likely to have a successful hosting experience by meeting with all family members who will be living at home with the exchange student. If a family is found suitable to host and who chooses to host, the Hosting Interviewer must submit a written interview Form D for that family to their regional AFS office as part of the host family application required by the U.S. State Department.

Responsibilities:

• Explain to the potential family their responsibilities and the responsibilities of the exchange student and of AFS staff and volunteers.
• Discuss what to expect from their student/family liaison and describe the community support system in place locally. Inform the family of orientations and AFS activities occuring while they are hosting.
• Answer questions and address concerns the family may have about hosting.
• Assess if the home is appropriate for hosting, in particular the bedroom in which the student will be sleeping.
• Work with volunteer Hosting Coordinator to make any recommendations relevant to which kind of student would do best with the family.
• Complete the host family interview (Form D) and submit it in a timely manner to the regional AFS office.
• If it is determined that a family is not in a position to host an AFS student, work with the Hosting Coordinator and, if necessary, the regional AFS office to communicate that to the family.

Time Required:

• Varies dependent upon need, the number of families interested in participating in the interviewer’s chapter or team, and the time of year.
• Length of Service: Negotiable, although one academic or calendar year is preferred.

Responsible to:

• Team/Chapter Hosting Coordinator
• If Hosting Interviewer is the Team/Chapter Hosting Coordinator, then responsible to Team/Chapter Chair or Regional Hosting Coordinator

Competencies Required:

• Well-organized
• Good listening and communication skills
• Open- minded and flexible
• Clear and concise writer
• Knowledge of AFS and State Department requirements for host families

Training:

• Ongoing support from Regional Service Center
• Peer-to-peer training available
• Participation in regional or national conferences or training events

Works with:

• Staff
  • Regional Hosting Coordinator

• Volunteer
  • Team/Chapter Hosting Coordinator
  • Local Hosting Volunteers or Community Representatives

Benefits to Volunteer:

• Develop relationships with AFS volunteers, staff, and host families
• Share the mission and power of AFS with people new to AFS
• Increase communication, delegation, and organization skills
• Contributing meaningfully to the student-host family relationships by helping families set appropriate expectations for the AFS experience

See Also

• Interviewing host families
• Legacy AFS document How to interview host families
• Form A
• Form D