A handy guide to some of the most common acronyms and abbreviations used by AFS-USA volunteers and staff.
A guide to IOC codes (International Olympic Committee/partner country codes) can be found here.
A guide to AFS's Program Codes (program length, content, and cycle) can be found here.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A |
|
| AC | American Councils |
| ASC | Associate Support Coordinator |
| AT | Area Team |
| ATC | Area Team Chair |
| ATH | Area Team Hold |
| AW | Activity Waiver |
B |
|
| BUBW | Better Understanding for a Better World Conference |
C |
|
| CBC | Criminal Background Check |
| CBO | Community Based Organization |
| CBYX | Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange |
| CC | Community College |
| CEPI | Customer Experience and Program Innovation Department |
| CP | Community Placed |
| CSIET | Council on Standards for International and Educational Travel |
D |
|
| D-Day | Departure Day |
| DO | Duty Officer |
| DOS | Department of State |
| DP | Double Placement |
E |
|
| ECA | Educational and Cultural Affairs |
| ED | Eating Disorder |
| ELTiS | English Language Test for International Students |
| EOS | End of Stay Orientation |
| ER | Early Return |
F |
|
| F | Finalist |
| F-1 | F-1 Visa |
| FF | Priority Finalist |
| FOA | Faces of America |
| FPC | Family Placement Confirmed |
G |
|
| G | Guaranteed placement |
| GL | Global Link |
| GMMI | Global Medical Management Inc. |
H |
|
| H&L | Help & Learning |
| HDS | Host Distribution Site |
| HF | Host Family |
| HFA | Host Family Agreement (Form F) |
| HFO | Host Family Orientation |
| HFOA | Host Family Online Application |
| HOC | Hosting Operations Coordinator |
| HOps | Hosting Operations Department |
| Hostfam | Host Family |
| HSA | Hosting and Support Affiliations Training |
I |
|
| ICL | Intercultural Learning |
| IEW | International Education Week |
| IOC code | International Olympic Committee code |
J |
|
| J-1 | J-1 Visa |
M |
|
| MLR | Monthly Learning Reflections |
N |
|
| Natfam/Nats | Natural Family |
| Natma | Natural Mother |
| Natpa | Natural Father |
| NF | Natural Family |
| NSLI-Y | National Strategic Language Initiative for Youth |
| NT PPW | Non-Traditional Placement (Double Placement, Single Parent Placement, Same Sex Hostparent Placement) Paperwork |
| NVA | National Volunteer Assembly |
O |
|
| OA | Online Application |
| OD | Organizational Development |
| ODS | Organizational Development Specialist |
P |
|
| PA | Participation Agreement |
| PAF | Parental Authorization Form |
| PAF | Placement Acceptance Form |
| PAO | Post-Arrival Orientation |
| pax | Participant |
| PDO | Pre-Departure Orientation |
| PFS | Plan for Success |
| PHQ | Partner Health Questionnaire |
| PP | Parental Permission Form |
| PPW | Paperwork |
| PR | Program Release |
| PRTN | Personal Early Return |
| PS | Payment Schedule |
| PSM | Participant Support Manager |
| PSS | Participant Support Specialist |
| PWP | Placed Without Papers |
R |
|
| RD | Regional Director |
| RFS | Regional Field Specialist |
| RMCQA | Risk Management, Compliance & Quality Assurance |
| RTLC | Regional Travel and Logistics Coordinator |
S |
|
| SA | Support Agreement |
| SAS | Study Abroad Specialist |
| SC | Support Coordinator |
| SP | Sponsored Programs |
| SP Hostfam | Single Parent Host Family (without children living in home) |
| Sr PSS | Senior Participant Support Specialist |
| SS Hostfam | Same Sex Host Parent Family |
T |
|
| TW | Travel Waiver |
V |
|
| Vol | Volunteer |
W |
|
| WL | Warning Letter |
| WL | Wait listed |
| WW | Withdrawn |
Y |
|
| YES | Youth Exchange and Study |
| YES Abroad | Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad |