CSFES is receiving requests from parents to recommend suitable student exchange organizations. While CSFES is not in the position to make such referrals, we offer the following when making this very important decision:

 

Fingerprint Background Checks:

 

Ask specifically if the student exchange organization conducts fingerprint background checks.  If the answer is no, search for another company.  

 

In Case of an Emergency:

 

Check how well the student exchange organization responds to emergencies, especially of an evening, weekends and holidays. Find out the emergency telephone number in which to call.  Then call the telephone number. The response will tell you if this is a responsible organization. 

 

Reviewing Student Profiles:

 

When visiting the exchange organization's website, what controls are in place to prevent easy access to the student's profile?  Is personal information easily accessible complete with the student's photo?  Is this the method in which you would like for your son or daughter to be placed by the student exchange organization?

 

There is an increase in sexual predators targeting children through the Internet, therefore, this is a vital concern to CSFES.

 

Host Family Information:

 

In the event you have progressed to receiving your son or daughter's prospective Host Family information packet from the student exchange organization: 

 

Check to see that this family's interests are similar to your son or daughters.

 

If your child has allergies or asthma; is he/she being placed in a home with animals or those who smoke?

 

**Be very concerned if prior to your son or daughter's departure, you are notified by the student exchange organization that there has been a  sudden change with the Host Family selected for your child.  If you are told the Host Family is no longer the same "due to a divorce or unforeseen circumstances," etc., this is a major concern to CSFES." **

 

You will be told that a Welcome Family will instead await your son or daughter.  It has been our experience that this gives cause for your child to potentially be bounced around from Welcome Family many times prior to a "permanent" family being secured. Does the organization pre-screen welcome families, including fingerprint background checks?

 

As per the United States Department of State regulations, Section 62.25 (d)(3) "Ensure that no organizational representative act as both host family and area supervisor for any student participant whom that organizational representative may host."

 

Your son or daughter should not be placed in a home where his/her host mother or father is also the organization's supervisor, area representative or regional director.  This provides no neutrality in the event your son or daughter has concerns or an emergency.

 

Secure High School Placement:

 

Do you have a letter of acknowledgement from the high school your son or daughter will attend?

 

As per the United States Department of State regulations, Section 62.25(f)(4) "Under no circumstance shall a sponsor facilitate the entry into the United States of a student for whom a school placement hs not been secured."

 

Student Identification Card:

 

As per the United States Department of State regulations, Section 62.25 (g)(4) "An identification card which lists the student's name, United States home placement address and telephone number, and a telephone number which affords immediate contact with both the Department of State and sponsor in case of emergency.  Such cards may be provided in advance of home country departure or immediately upon entry into the United States."

 

Parents:  Make certain your son or daughter has this information; complete with a telephone number that will provide immediate contact with both the Department of State and sponsor.

 

** In the event your child is not provided with a Student Identification Card complete with the above-referenced information, prior to departure or arrival into the United States, please notify CSFES immediately. **

 

Ask who has the final say on the selection of family. If you have concerns about the family (age of host parents, etc.) and you are told that if you have to accept the family -- ask more questions.

 

CSFES asks that parents please:

 

a)   ask for a copy of the child protection policy of the agency responsible for placing students.

b)   ask for a guarantee in writing that the home of the host family has been inspected and the privacy of the student in bathroom and bedroom ensured.

c)   ensure that their children are aware of what constitutes sexual harassment given that most rapes are preceded by  touching the thigh, commenting on the sexual attractiveness of the student, "accidentally" touching breasts etc., which if ignored leads the perpetrator to think that it is acceptable to proceed further.

d)   ask if the agency informs the student of telephone numbers to call if abusive behavior occurs (police, rape crisis centers, etc) ? If not, do not use that agency.

e)   make certain your child can access the passport and return ticket if an unacceptable situation is encountered.

f)    ensure your child knows how to phone home from overseas.

g)   ensure they know how to contact their consulate in case they encounter problems that the agency ignores.

 

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Help for Families Wanting to Host a Foreign Exchange Student 

 

Take these steps prior to hosting an exchange student:

 

April 20, 2006 -- Hosting a foreign exchange student!  You are patriotic and think it might be a good idea to introduce an exchange student to the American way of life. You are undecided. Do it!  But here's what you need to know before making such a huge commitment to protect yourself and your family.

Plan several months in advance and be sure your entire family is prepared to accept a student. Communicate with the student's family before he/she leaves their home country. This will give you an idea of how well the student speaks English. A student who cannot speak sufficient English to handle our high school curriculum will be miserable. Better the young person waits another year and masters English better.  Foreign parents pay $2,500 to $16,000 for their child to participate.

Understand that all adults in your household will have to undergo criminal background checks for the protection of the student.  Placing someone's child into a private home necessitates this important child protection measure.

Never accept a student at the last minute. This may indicate a sloppy agency that has failed to comply with federal regulations.

Contact your local high school to ensure placement is available.  Many high schools have predetermined slots for foreign exchange students. Find out if the exchange organization has a good working relationship with the school administrators and the community. You don't want to be left hanging if there is a problem and the organization's representative disappears or is unresponsive.

Ask for the emergency procedures and telephone number from the student's exchange organization. Call the telephone number. The response will tell you what to expect from this organization if you have an emergency. Local law enforcement should be contacted if there is a crime committed against your student. Make certain you have the telephone number for the U.S. Department of State. This is the federal agency that is responsible for monitoring the exchange organizations. All J-1 visa programs are regulated by the State Department's Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation.

Plan to provide food, shelter and guidance to a teenager for the school year. This is your responsibility as a host parent and you should not expect reimbursement for these expenses. The exchange community estimates that host families provide $7,000 to $13,000 in services to host an exchange student. Yes, it is expensive. Are you financially prepared to accept this responsibility?

Don't overlook issues such as accepting a student who smokes or is allergic to pets. Some people prey on foreign exchange students expecting free babysitters or financial contributions for household expenses. Watch out for exchange organizations that are just trying to dump these teenagers into any home with cursory screenings. If the organization doesn't have time to ensure a safe and adequate home, it won't have time to help you if a problem should arise.

Accept a young person for the right reasons by providing a clean, warm home and wanting to share our culture. So what will you get in return? A student who is sure to become a member of your family. Young people who return to their own countries with fond memories that strengthen ties between our countries - reinforcing that Americans are good people. A bottle of glogg from Denmark, a tin of homemade cookies from Germany, a boomerang from Australia, a delicious recipe for papaya salad from Thailand and heartfelt letters of appreciation for years to come.

Is that enough? You bet! For more information about Foreign Student Exchange view www.csfes.org, the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students.

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January 05, 2006 -- Within weeks, a female German exchange student will return to Texas to testify. She was raped by her 29-year-old host father, Timothy Jordan, who was arrested on November 8, 2005. The student exchange organization: AYUSA, headquarters in San Francisco, California.

 

In February, 2006, three male German exchange students will return to Arkansas to testify. These boys were raped by their 35-year-old male ERDT/Share, Area Representative, Doyle Meyer. ERDT/Share is a California-based student exchange organization.

 

In August 2005, The Grand Rapids Press headlines read, "Foreign exchange host sentenced for videotaping teen" by John Tunison and John Agar. A man who hosted three foreign exchange students in recent years disgraced the program by secretly videotaping a German teen in her bedroom, a judge said.

 

Police accused Dale Edward LaCosss, 46, of hiding a video camera in a dollhouse of the 16-year-old female German exchange student's bedroom, with the lens pointed out an upper window. LaCoss's wife, Susan LaCoss Kahler, 52, pleaded no contest to interfering with a police investigation after detectives said she tried to hide an incriminating note left for her husband at their home.

 

Note: The student exchange organization is: Youth for Understanding. Mark Nicholas Meier, 54, the YFU representative, was fined $250 after pleading no contest to failure to report abuse. Meier, who police said didn't immediately report the videotaping when the German teen told him, also is a Plainwell attorney who teaches law enforcement classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

 

In February, 2005, Peter Ruzzo, 35, pleaded guilty to molesting a 15-year-old female German exchange student. Deputy District Attorney Kelly Hansen said, "The defendant once told the victim that when he saw her foreign-exchange photo that he considered it a challenge, even before she got here, to have sex with her."  The student exchange organization:  EF Foundation for Foreign Study.

 

In December 2004, in Rockville, Maryland, biology teacher Andrew Powers, 27, was arrested on charges of sexually abusing a 17-year-old German exchange student. Powers allegedly went into her bedroom and engaged in what police call inappropriate sexual contact. Police also say he had a habit of walking around naked in the house and touching the girl's buttocks. The student exchange organization: AYUSA, headquarters in San Francisco, California.

 

In October, 2003, in Naples, Florida, the Naples Daily News reads, "Ex-Naples priest faces new sex abuse suit" by Alan Scher Zagier. When reports of William Romero's troubles as a priest surfaced, the California-based exchange program, Pacific Intercultural Exchange (PIE) removed two high school students from Romero's home. Two, male German exchange students told attorney Jason Weisser that they, too, were abused by Romero while living with him in Moore Haven.

 

In September, 2005, a female Japanese exchange student lived in the home of a convicted felon, John Gallups, in Saint Augustine, Florida. F.A.C.E. is the student exchange organization located in Gainesville, Florida.

 

We are now receiving a growing number of calls from concerned parents in the United States for the safety and welfare of their child who is studying abroad. Given the fact that these students are not provided with any Child Protection Guidelines only adds to our concern.

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