Update: Online and In-person Host Family Pre-Arrival Orientation
From AFSWiki
The National Council has approved the requirement that all host families are required to complete an online orientation prior to arrival of their participant. While all host family members will be encouraged to complete the online module, only the head of household (host mother or host father) will be required to provide proof of completion. This requirement will take effect for families hosting participants arriving in August 2010. This decision was made by the National Council primarily in response to changes in the regulatory environment related to J-1 visa exchange programs. For additional background information regarding this decision, please see this previous news item: Online Host Family Orientation to be Mandatory beginning in NH 2010 .
The online host family orientation does not replace the local, in-person orientation. All Teams are still required to offer an in-person host family orientation prior to the arrival of participants. Volunteers should do their best to ensure that all host family members attend the in-person event. If it is not possible for at least one adult member of the family to attend, volunteers must ensure that the information covered in the in-person event is communicated to the host family via other means such as written material and/or a conversation with their liaison or another AFS Volunteer.
Members of the Orientation Advisory group and others are currently revising the Host Family Pre-Arrival Orientation Leader's Guide to complement the online orientation. Beginning in NH 2010, the content of this orientation will focus more on providing information about local AFS activities and school requirements, as opposed to national and international rules and regulations, which are included in the Host Family Handbook and will be featured in the online host family orientation modules. As always, the in-person orientation will provide families with information about and strategies for cultural adjustment, intercultural communication and understanding cultural differences, as well as give them the chance to review important points, ask questions and connect with fellow AFS Host Families and Volunteers. If you would like to assist with the revision of the Host Family Pre-Arrival Orientation Leader’s Guide, please contact rweber@afs.org.
At this time staff are currently working on the system through which host families will receive access to the online modules, scheduled to be launched by the end of April. Additional information and updates will be provided via www.afswiki.org and the Volunteer Newsletter - Coming Together
