Post-Arrival Orientation Emergency or not? Activity

From AFSWiki

This resource was developed by members of the Orientation Advisory Group in response to the announcement re. the US Department of State Toll Free Number

Contents 1 Goal 1.1 Objectives 1.2 Materials/Preparation 1.3 Instructions

Goal

To increase the participants' awareness of the kinds of situations that may pose a risk to their safety and well-being and to ensure that they are aware of the need to notify AFS Volunteers or Staff in such situations, or the Dept of State Toll Free number if they feel that their concerns are not being adequately addressed by AFS Volunteers or Staff.

Phase:	Post-Arrival
Audience:	Inbound participants
Focus:	AFS and You
Also covers:	Cultural Adjustment and Coping, Culture Learning
Time:	45 minutes
Preparation/Materials:	some
Group size:	any

Objectives

By the end of this activity participants will be able to:

• identify what host families are required to provide to them in accordance with AFS Quality Standards, US Department of State and CSIET guidelines and regulations (per the host family agreement)
• identify situations that pose a risk to their safety and well-being
• list the individuals who they should notify, and their contact information should they feel unsafe at any time

Materials/Preparation

• Emergency or not? Handout - one per participant
• Emergency or not? Leader's Guide - one per group leader
• Writing utensil - one per participant
• Flip chart and markers
• Communication to Host Families and Participants re. DoS Toll Free Number - one set per group leader
• 5-10 small candy bars or treats

Instructions

This session should immediately follow Session I in the Post-Arrival Orientation Leader's Guide entitled "Your Family" which deals with adjustment to family life and raising awareness of cultural differences, and Session II entitled "Personal Safety and Well-being, which consists of check-in sheets and case studies designed to help participants develop skills and knowledge that will help enable to ensure their own safety and well-being while on the AFS program.

Part I 15-20 minutes
1. Begin the session by adapting or stating the following.

In the previous session we talked about challenges you might be having adjusting to US culture, life with your host family and the need to discuss any questions or concerns with your host family. Sometimes you might not feel comfortable discussing something with your host family because the situation makes you uncomfortable or you are not sure if there is really cause for concern. In this session we are going to talk about what your host family is required to provide you as an AFS participant according to AFS Quality Guidelines and those of the US Department of State, that gives AFS the authority to be your hosting organization, and another regulatory agency in the US called CSIET. Council on Standards for International Education Travel!

We are also going to do an activity that will help you distinguish between situations that may pose risks to your safety and well-being and those that may make you uncomfortable but are not a safety risk.

2. Ask the participants to tell you what they think their host family is required to provide to them and record their answers on a flip chart. Do not discuss the items raised until the brainstorm is finished.
3. Review the list and ask the group if they feel each item noted is truly required of host families. Note any that are not.
(See section that begins, "As a host family we agree to:")

Part II 25-30 minutes
1. Distribute the Emergency or not? Handout. In small groups, pairs or in the large group, ask participants to discuss and determine whether each situation would be considered an emergency and therefore warrant contacting their liaison immediately.
2. Reconvene the large group (if necessary) and review each scenario given the proper ranking per the Emergency or not? Leader's Guide.
3. Ask the students to make up their own scenario: Students come up with a scenario to add. Award a small treat for each student who comes up with a scenario.
4. Refer to the Communication to Host Families and Participants re. DoS Toll Free Number) that they and their host families should have recently received. (If a student did not yet receive the letters, take note of this and ensure that they are given a set prior to leaving the orientation and confirm that their host family has received a set. - If not, provide them one asap.)
5. Review the Support Chain of Communication and provide the appropriate names and contact information. Note the DoS Toll Free Number as an option only if all other points of contact have been attempted but failed to produce satisfactory results. (Many or all teams may have already done so by this point, but please repeat this information here).
6. Close the session by stating that students should express any doubt or concern they have because all of their feelings are valid. Their safety and well-being is a the top priority for AFS and we need their help in ensuring it. A key part of doing so is by sharing their questions and concerns with these people.