AFS volunteers are instrumental in providing a quality exchange and work together at many levels to ensure that students and host families receive the support vital to a successful experience. Although support for AFS participants and host families is provided through a community of volunteers and the AFS-USA national office, the AFS Liaison is the primary contact person for students and host families, and they are a key part of the AFS support network. As a liaison, you will directly guide hosted participants and their host families through the international exchange experience and help propel a life-changing journey for both parties.
The primary role of the liaison is to maintain regular contact with their assigned AFS student and host family, providing support and information and assisting in problem-solving when the need arises. Effective liaisons are objective but caring. They make themselves available to both the student and host family and are attentive and supportive listeners to all.
Through regular contact, liaisons also serve the vital role of ensuring that our students remain safe on program. Student safety is AFS’s top priority, and we rely on liaisons to report any safety concerns that they observe or that are reported to them.
The liaison works and consults closely with their Team’s support leadership such as the AFS Support Coordinator and/or Associate Support Coordinator as needed and in cases of more serious challenges and situations. On occasion, liaisons may work with AFS-USA staff directly as well. You’ll have help from a community of local volunteers and staff, creating an opportunity for learning and sharing as you navigate the intriguing cultural differences that make the exchange experience so rich and rewarding.
Requirements
- A liaison must live within 120 miles of the host student.
- A liaison cannot be a close friend or relative of the host family.
- A liaison must be 21 years or older.
- A liaison cannot hold a position of trust or authority over student, such as teacher, school principal, or coach.
- A liaison cannot host a student with another J-1 visa organization.
Tasks
- Maintain and document regular (monthly) contact and in-home visits with the host student and host family
- Maintain and document contact with the host student’s school, three times a year for year-long program (YP) students and two times a year for semester (SM) students. If the school hosts more than one AFS host student, it is recommended that the team/chapter identify one volunteer (who could be a Liaison, Support Coordinator, Liaison Coordinator, Associate Support Coordinator, etc.) to contact the school on behalf of all the AFS host students
- Provide support and information to the host student, host family, and school
- Facilitate dialogues between the host student and host family when challenges arise on program with guidance from support volunteer leadership and Participant Support Staff
- Keep support volunteers informed about issues impacting the host student and/or host family’s experience as they arise
Resources
- The AFS Liaison Responsibilities Guide and AFS Liaison Pledge are important resources for all AFS liaisons, illustrating reporting responsibilities. Keep a copy of these documents with you.
- Log Contacts & Visits
This Help & Learning section contains information on everything you need to know about AFS requirements for contacts and visits, preparing for your contact/visit and overview of discussion guides, and how to log your contact/visit once completed. - Supporting Students and Families
This Help & Learning section contains information on everything you need to know about AFS Support and Learning and the support structure, Support processes and tools, and important rules and guidelines.
- Hosting Orientation Overview
This section contains helpful information on the AFS orientations provided for the Participant and Host Family throughout the program by AFS volunteers.
Required Training
- DoS (Dept. of State) Certification Training (annually)
- AFS Basics Training (annually)
- Liaison Training (prior to assuming the role of Liaison)
Recommended Training