Host Families
We are now accepting applications for families to host one of our 2009 Summer Surf Program Students. Take a look at our
Host Family Extras page to see what kind of perks are available to families who host one of our Summer Surf Program students.
Our host families are the best!
Our host families are warm, caring people with a genuine interest in learning about other cultures through hosting students. The host family is visited and carefully screened, and if approved, we allow the family to choose their student if at all possible. Families who host foreign students come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all have several things in common. They want to get to know someone from another country, whether it be for for personal growth, or to expose their family to a new culture, and give their child the opportunity to travel and stay with friends instead of hotels. Sometimes it may be just to do something different for a few weeks. Their homes are happy homes. Not necessarily wealthy homes, but homes that say "Welcome to Our Family".
SDCH host families enjoy getting to know not only International students but other host families in their community who share a common bond- the sincere belief that young people are the hope of tomorrow.
Families with teenagers often times provide the best homestay experience of all. Even if your teen has a job, your family can host. Activites will be scheduled so your teen will not be left alone during the week. By inviting a foreign student to become a member of the family for a few weeks, lives are enriched as we make new friends from abroad. Program activities, parties, and excursions all provide a structure for wholesome socialization. Families are compensated enough money to cover expenses. By doing this we are able to select families that are hosting for the right reason, not for an income only. With most programs daily transportation is provided.
Families with young children can also host an SDCH student. Young children will benefit from this experience, and the students enjoy the big brother/sister relationship which develops quickly. SDCH activities are family oriented and are often very enjoyable for younger children.
Hosting the Escort
Most groups arrive with an English speaking adult escort, often a teacher or other person accustomed to working with young people. The escort always stays with a host family in the community in which his/her group is placed. Couples, families, retired and single people, all can enjoy hosting an escort. The escort often has specific responsibilities to fulfill, so for many escorts this is a working vacation. For this reason, escorts prefer independent households. Hosts enjoy adult interaction and the escorts enjoy meeting adults and being a part of an American household.
Host Family Screening
As you can imagine, the families who entrust their children to SDCH are concerned about the family
who will host their child. To ensure compatibility of the student and host family an SDCH representative must personally visit each prospective host family.
While in the home, a coordinator will ask questions about the family's lifestyle, interests, and hobbies. By finding out some details about a family's everyday life, a coordinator is able to match a student to a family. Often the host family can choose their student themselves from several applications or directly from the webiste. Since the students are visiting the United States to learn about everyday American life, SDCH does not want or expect the host family to change their way of life to accommodate the student.
The coordinator visiting a family is not concerned with the size of a home. What is important is that the hosting family is willing to make the student a true part of their family. Loving families who want to enrich their lives are the key to a great experience for student and family alike. Single parents, traditional families, and blended families are all a part of the American way of life. An unusual family structure is not a reason not to pass up this enriching opportunity.
While in your home, a coordinator will explain the details of the program and the specific obligations a host family has. Your family will have an opportunity to ask questions about the program and to express an opinion as to the type of student best suited for the home. The host family is an active participant in selecting a student for their home.
With Summer programs, many of the host family screenings take place prior to the coordinator receiving the actual student profiles. Occasionally a family may not actually be matched to a student until 2-3 weeks before the student's arrival. But be assured that the coordinator will assist you with choosing the most compatible student for your home, according to the information provided by you and the student.
During this initial meeting, a coordinator will assist you with completing a host family application, which an adult family member must sign. This information is sent to the SDCH affiliates abroad and forwarded to the visiting student's family when a student is matched to the family.