Liaison Process Survey Results: November 2011
From AFSWiki
Liaison Survey Results: What’s Next?
AFS-USA recently conducted a survey regarding Liaison recruitment, registration and training. Nearly 200 volunteers identified as Liaison Coordinators or people working closely with Liaisons, as well 500 randomly selected Liaisons received the surveys.
We are pleased to report that 36.3% of the Liaisons who received the survey replied, as did 40% of Coordinators. A big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. We received some excellent insight into how we might improve the process for liaison recruitment, registration and training in 2012. (Links to both surveys are at the bottom of the page.)
Over the coming weeks, our Liaison Process Review Workgroup will be analyzing the data from the survey to look at ways of improving and the liaison recruitment and training process within our budget and technology constraints, while still complying with US Department of State regulations. In the mean- time, we wanted to share some specific findings from the survey results:
→ 45.6% of the liaisons who responded to the survey are a liaison for the first time in 2011-12.
→ Half of liaisons described the online training instructions they received as being “very clear,” with another 37.5% calling the instructions “somewhat clear.”
→ 94.3% of current liaisons felt that the information included in the training was either “very” or “somewhat” useful in helping them understand the role and responsibilities of liaisons.
→ Liaison Coordinators reported that the liaisons had a much higher level of frustration and difficulty with accessing the online training courses than was indicated by the results from the Liaison Survey. 48.7% of Liaison Coordinators described accessing the DoS online training course as being “difficult” or “ridiculously hard,” compared to only 18.3% of liaisons reporting having problems accessing that course.
→ Over half of liaisons (53%) reported being assigned to their student and host family within two weeks of agreeing to become a liaison.
→ 92.3% of Liaison Coordinators reported that they received responses from staff to phone and email inquiries about liaisons in less than 2 business days – including about 30% who reported same day responses.
→ 29.3% of Liaison Coordinators reported that liaison recruitment was “a lot more difficult” in 2011, with another 34.1% reporting that liaison recruitment was “slightly more difficult” in 2011 than in years’ past.
→ In terms of liaison recruitment strategies, Liaison Coordinators reported that most of the liaisons they recruit are repeat liaisons. This is supported by the liaison survey, which found that 63% of current liaisons are already willing to agree to be a liaison again in 2012, with another 33.7% of current liaisons reporting that it is “too early to tell” whether or not they will be a liaison again next year. New liaisons are most frequently recruited from former host families, AFS returnees, and then personal friends or others not previously connected with AFS.
We are happy to be able to announce a couple of changes that we will be implementing in 2012:
⇒ We are developing a “refresher” Hosting & Support Affiliation (HSA) training course for all volunteers who have already completed the full HSA course
⇒ For returning Liaisons, in addition to the refresher HSA course, the AFS-USA online Liaison Course will not need to be repeated in 2012
In the coming months, we anticipate being able to make additional announcements regarding other improvements that will be made to the liaison recruitment and training process. We will provide updates in the next few issues of the Coming Together Newsletter, as well as on the AFS Wiki, as we make changes to the liaison process based on these results and the additional comments given in the survey. If you’d like to view the complete survey results, you can do so by accessing the following links:
Liaison Process Survey Results - Liaisons
Liaison Process Survey Results - VPPs
The specific comments we received from many of you will be a great help as we look for ways we can improve the liaison recruitment and training process in 2012. AFS-USA, as a volunteer-based organization, stands apart from other exchange programs, and the hard work and dedication from each of you is what makes up the heart and soul of our organization. Thank you, for all you do.
