Steps to Become a Host Family

Opening The World Through Youth Exchange ...

Steps to Becoming a Host Family

Inquire into the background of the exchange organization.
Global Insights, a non-profit organization, operates in full compliance with the United States Department of State regulations and with the standards established by The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET). These regulations and standards, as well as Global Insights Policies and Procedures, are established for the safety of our students and for the support of our host families and schools.

Discuss hosting with all immediate family members.
In order for the exchange experience to be successful, all members of the family should be a part of this important decision.

Call the Global Insights National Office at 1-888-HOST ME
(1-888-246-7863).
You will be referred to the local Area Representative near your community. The Area Representative can answer your questions about the program and arrange for an in-home interview.

Complete the Host Family Application.
You may request this form from your local Area Representative or download it here. The Area Representative will review your application and contact each provided referent in order to determine that your family meets the standards set forth by Global Insights for host families.

Meet the local Area Representative during the in-home interview and if approved, choose your student!
The Global Insights Area Representative will interview your family to learn more about your interests and hobbies, tour your home, and answer any questions you may have about Global Insights and the hosting experience. Once approved, the Area Representative will share profiles of various students carefully selected to match the interests and lifestyle of your family. Once you select your student, you will be provided with his/her complete application, including student and natural parent letters, school and medical records and a photo album. With all paperwork finalized, you may begin to contact your student.

Meet your new son/daughter.
You will meet your student at the local airport and the adventure will begin! Your Global Insights Area Representative will keep in touch with you throughout the experience with a Student Welcome Orientation, monthly contact, planned get-togethers, and additional mandatory orientations. You and your family can count on caring and qualified support every step of the way.

If you have decided that hosting is for your family, you have already taken the first step towards this incredible experience!

As you can imagine, Global Insights must select host families very carefully to ensure that each exchange student is welcomed by a safe, caring and responsible family. We encourage you to read Becoming a Host Family and the FAQ section provided on this site. Then follow one of the three methods below to apply to become a Global Insights host family:

1. Call 1-888-2-HOST ME (1-888-246-7863) if you would like to speak to a Global Insights Area Representative. Request that a Host Family Application be mailed to you.

2. Submit your preliminary application online by going to the Host Family Interest Form. Once your information has been submitted, you can expect to be contacted by a local Global Insights Area Representative.

3. Download the Host Family Application to your computer. You can download the application, fill it out and mail it to Global Insights. To do this, you will need to use Adobe's Acrobat Reader software. Get this software free by clicking on the Get Acrobat Reader box below. Then come back to this page. If you already have the Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can open the Host Family Application now. When you have completed the application, mail it to:

Global Insights
2248 Mainsail Court
Marietta, Georgia 30062