Understanding & Promoting School Relations

From AFSWiki

Steps to Recruit Through Your Schools

Step 1: School Contact Collection

Contact your Regional Hosting Coordinator to request a listing of schools that have hosted or sent students with AFS. This will be a good list to start from when initially contacting schools. Otherwise, if you are already connected with your local school, follow the steps below.

Step 2: Initial Introduction

Contact Principal or Guidance Counselor at High School and introduce yourself as the local AFS Intercultural Programs volunteer. Ask to schedule a meeting with them to discuss hosting and host family recruitment through school/parent newsletters and staff participation.

Step 3: Meeting with School Contact

Be sure to leave an Educator Packet with the Counselor/Career Center for any student inquires and ask a school official to complete the School Profile Form so we can update our records. *Staff can mail those materials to you upon request.

Step 4: Creating a Newsletter Insert

Once the school hosting contact agrees to help promote hosting, send the school a Hosting Blurb. You can also use a Hosting Press Release.

Step 5: Following Up With the School

Ask to receive a copy of the newsletter once released so you can track accordingly. In the meantime, e-mail the language department/social studies teachers and ask if they would like any AFS Intercultural Programs materials such as posters, a copy of the One Word DVD, or hosting brochures. This would tie nicely with the newsletter that is being sent out.

Step 6: Contact Staff Hosting Coordinator

Finally, please contact your Regional Hosting Coordinator so we can record your efforts and update our school records.

Resources

• School Relations Tips

• Educator Packet

• School Brochure to be used to provide information about and benefits of AFS to teachers and administrators.

• Use the Hosting Interest Card when doing school presentations to easily follow up with your host family leads.

• Customizable Certificate of Appreciation from AFS Volunteer to schools.

• Parent Newsletter Posting

• Superintendent Email Blast

• Letter to Teachers of AFS Students

• Intro Letter to School Counselor About Exchange Students (2008)

• 10 Questions Schools Should Ask About Exchange Organizations (2008)

• Impact of the AFS Study Abroad Experience Study

• School Relationships

Hosting Topics
Materials	Host Family Application · Host Family Handbook · GL Help Hosting
Hosting Process	Finding host families · Talking with potential host families · Hosting Lead Management Process · Interviewing host families · Matching families to students · School approval · Completing the placement
Best Practices	Hosting 101 · Host Family Recruitment Strategies · Understanding & Promoting School Relations · Writing Student Bios · Overcoming Objections · Tasks for New Hosting Volunteers ·
Marketing Materials	Hosting Print Materials · Host Family Recruitment Documents · Media Related Materials · Community Relations · Hosting Digital Marketing · Host Family Recruitment Tool Kit
Quality & Compliance	CSIET Host Family Recruitment Standards · Quality Standards · International Exchange Safety Guide · Compliance FAQ
Other Topics	Sending · Hosting · Support · Orientations