How are host families selected?
The schools look for families that have a nice and clean house, a well-ventilated room with enough light, and family members that like to make a student feel part of the family. The schools inspect all houses personally and families are interviewed before being chosen as a host family. Families are required to live within a reasonable distance from school, have ample living space. In instances, where Host Families are offered without courses, NIK-LAS review the family and their accommodations.
We look for families living in nice and safe residential neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx. All should be within proximity to public transportation. We inspect the rooms for cleanliness and tidiness and get a good feeling as to whether the home atmosphere is thoroughly welcoming and the attitude is positive from each member of the family. If we feel some conflicts within the family or everyone is not absolutely positive, we decline to use these homes as homestays. We work with the same host families again and again and an atmosphere of trust and friendship has quickly developed over the years. This has resulted in outstanding quality of homestays and a real “home away from home” for our students. We work in a similar fashion in LA, London and Paris.
A. Each host community has developed a screening process they use for selecting appropriate host families. Most families are sought out from the local JCC, local synagogues/temples and Jewish groups/organizations. In addition, each local artist MUST house at least two artists in order to participate in ArtsFest. Although the process may be somewhat different from city to city, all host families are researched to ensure the teen’s safety and well being. Q. What if an artist is not happy with his/her host family? A. Changes in host families will not be made unless the safety or security of an artist is of concern, or there is a medical condition such as an allergy or dietary issue. Each case is considered on an individual basis. Q. Are kosher homes available? A. Yes. The request for Kosher or Glatt Kosher homes is honored before any other requests. Q. Are artists guaranteed to be housed with their friends? A. No. The housing of artists is very complex and although the host community will
All Global Insights host families are personally interviewed in their home and screened by our local Area Representatives according to Global Insights policies and procedures. We consider a host family’s housing conditions and financial ability to host, but certainly host families are not expected to be “wealthy.” Most of our host families are middle class. We are more concerned that host families have a willingness to accept the student as a member of their family, and have the ability to provide a student with a nurturing and loving family environment.
Each host has developed a screening process they use for selecting appropriate host families. Most families are sought out from the local JCC, local synagogues/temples and Jewish groups/organizations. In addition, each local athlete MUST house at least two athletes in order to participate in the Games. Although the process may be somewhat different from city to city, all host families are researched to ensure the athlete’s safety and well being.
