Bring the world to your home by becoming an ACES host family! ACES offers American families the unique, fun and rewarding opportunity to share their homes and hearts with visitors from around the world. Your visitor will learn about the U.S. by being a member of your family, while at the same time you and your family will have the opportunity to learn about another country and culture from your new "family member."

We, at ACES, believe that the host family component of our programs is the most important aspect of the cross-cultural exchange experience. It not only allows foreign visitors the unique opportunity to become completely immersed in American society and culture, but also allows American families the rewarding, enjoyable and learning experience of having a family member from another country for a few weeks to as long as a academic year.

We are dedicated to making this an enriching, pleasant, and educational experience for your family. We stand ready to help at any point during the program.

Host Family Qualifications
 
The most important qualification for becoming an ACES host family is the genuine desire to share your heart, home and way of life with a visitor from another country so that he or she becomes a true member of your family for the duration of the program.

There are no "typical" ACES host families. Our host families come from all walks of life and represent different socio-economic backgrounds. They live in urban, suburban and rural areas, and include single parent and two parent families as well as couples with no children.

Host Family Responsibilities
 
Beyond sharing your daily family life with your visitor, ACES host families' responsibilities include the following:

  • Provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment appropriate to the age of the visitor.
  • Provide an appropriate sleeping area for your new family member. Teenage participants can share a bedroom with a child of the same gender and similar age, but must have his or her own bed, a place to study, and a space to keep his or her belongings. Adult participants should, whenever possible, have their own room for sleeping, although two participants hosted by one family can share a bedroom.
  • Provide all meals eaten at home. This does not include school lunches or meals eaten away from home. Attend the host family orientation conducted by an ACES representative before the arrival of the visitor.
  • Be flexible, understanding and communicative with the new family member in order to assist him or her in adjusting to the U.S. and the family's way of life.

ACES Support
 
ACES provides support for host families from the time a placement is made until the end of the program. This support comes from both the Local Coordinator in your community as well as the national office staff. The Local Coordinator, and the national office staff when needed, will offer guidance, counseling, and program information throughout the program duration to both the host family and the participant. In addition, the Local Coordinator will conduct a host family orientation before the visitor arrives. Finally, program officials are available 24 hours a day for emergencies.

How to Become a Host Family
 
Prospective host families must complete a Host Family Application, which is an introduction to you and your family, and provide two references. Once the application has been submitted, an in-home interview will be conducted by the ACES Local Coordinator in your community.
How Placements are Made
 


After being accepted as an ACES host family, your family will choose your new family member by reviewing program participants' applications with the Local Coordinator. ACES works very hard to match participants and host families whose interests and backgrounds are compatible.


© 2002 American Cultural Exchange Service. All rights reserved.