Host with AFS Greater Puget Sound

Share your culture while experiencing another.

 

Each year, more than 2,800 American families provide wonderful, unique experiences for outstanding students from more than 50 countries. What they find is that the host family members often receive as much or more than they give.

 

Benefits of hosting an AFS exchange student

• Enrich your family’s daily life simply by sharing it with a young person from another culture and country
• Introduce a new culture and customs to your children
• See the U.S. and our culture through new eyes
• Develop a lifelong connection with your hosted participant and his or her family
• Help an outstanding young person grow into a more confident and knowledgeable adult

 

About our host families

We have all sorts of host families: traditional families, single parents, young couples, and gay/lesbian families, just to name a few. Some have been with the organization for many years, some are returnees; they all share a common interest in creating a meaningful and lasting relationship with a student from another country. AFS-GPS is very flexible in working with individuals who are willing to open up their home to a teenager from another country. 

 

AFS host family and student support information

• Our partner countries screen applicants to ensure that participants come here interested and ready to learn our culture and language.
• Local volunteers will assist you throughout your participant’s stay.
• Liaisons, support coordinators, AFS-USA staff and a 24/7 help hotline are available to you at anytime during your student’s stay.
• Participants come with their own spending money and medical coverage.
• We have strong rules that ALL participants agree to follow—disciplinary action will be taken against participants who choose to break these rules, up to and including being sent home.
• For most host families, the toughest part is saying good-bye—that is, until they learn that the friendship isn’t over, it just takes a new form.

 

 Host family application process

• First, complete a Host Family Interest Form A. Please email this form to Heidi Cook at her address below.
• Once our local contact receives this form, she will contact you regarding a host family interview (to be conducted in your home).
• Fill out a complete host family application.
• A local volunteer will meet with your local high school to secure a hosting spot for a student.
• Once accepted by AFS as a host family, you will choose a student from one of our many candidates.

 

For more information, please contact our Hosting Coordinator or AFS-USA at 1-800-AFS-INFO.