How are host families selected?
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 London and LA.
Host families are selected in much the same way you are selected as an exchange student. They must complete an application and an in-home interview with the individuals coordinating Youth Exchange in their area. Host family parents do not have to be Rotarians, but many Rotary club members apply to serve as host families.
Host families abroad are found much as they are here in the United States, primarily through schools and community organizations. Once a family expresses interest and desire to host, the family is visited by a Nacel representative abroad who ensures that the motives of the family are appropriate to hosting an American student and that the physical condition of the home meets Nacel Open Door requirements. All host families submit applications and are subject to background checks.
We believe host families are an important component of a successful study abroad experience. Intrax ensures each student’s safety through a comprehensive screening process. All host families are carefully screened and interviewed by Intrax’s overseas partners. An Intrax representative visits each prospective family’s home to meet all family members and ensure quality living arrangements. Typically, host families are volunteers whose decision to host an American student is based on a genuine desire to participate first-hand in the international exchange experience.
