Host Family Toolkit

Hello,

Welcome to the Pan Atlantic Foundation. If you are here, then you are probably considering hosting, have hosted or are currently hosting a student. We have created this toolkit to help answer any question you may have and support you along your journey. Our organization has been built from the ground up with support from volunteer host families. It is families like yours who open their heart and homes that make what we do possible. There are teens all over the world who have a desire for the American dream. How amazing is it that we get to be a part of making that dream become reality? So join us in making the world a smaller place and #livelifelikeneverbefore!

Sincerely,

Pan Atlantic

First Things First....

If you are interested in hosting, you should start your host family application right away. Completing the application does not obligate you to host. It does allow the Area Representative to share with you comprehensive student applications, pictures and videos. Until your application is approved we are limited on how much information we are able to provide on each student.

Begin Host Family Application

Browse Student Applications

You can now browse students on the Meet Our Students page. Keep in mind that this page is only a sample of our students and your Pan Atlantic Area Representative has access to all student application and they can work with you to find the student who will best fit your family!

24 Hour Support

Pan Atlantic Foundation is here to support you all the way. .

Pan Atlantic Foundation Support Staff is available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. We pride ourselves in the excellence we provide for all participants in our program.
Our phone number for after hours emergencies only is 1.866.227.5335 or (TOM BARK DEL )
PAF Email: services@panatlanticfoundation.org

How does Pan Atlantic find students?

A student applies to Pan Atlantic Foundation through one of our international partner agencies. We accept only the best, and the selection is thorough and competitive. Applicants are evaluated on academics; grades, teacher references, and English ability. But, equally as important, they and their natural parents are interviewed to ensure that they possess the commitment, motivation, and flexibility necessary to become a part of a new school, a new family, and a new community in a new country.

How does Pan Atlantic prepare students for their time in the United States?

After a thorough preparation in their home country with their agency Pan Atlantic Foundation provides students with an orientation upon their arrival to the United States. In this orientation the following topics are covered:

Student Handbook and Program Rules
Insurance and how to find local providers
Department of State Information and Regulations
Life and Customs in the United States
How to identify and report sexual abuse and misconduct
Safe technology use
Managing homesickness and cultural differences
Area Representative information and role

What should I expect throughout the program as a host ?

Complete your application and Criminal Background Check (part of application)
Your Area Representative will meet with your family in your home for an in person interview.
Your Area Representative will contact 2 of your 3 references.
Complete the Online Host Family Orientation.
Your Area Representative will also meet with you to have an in person orientation closer to or right after student arrival.
Prepare for a Follow Up Visit- It is a Department of State requirement that someone other than your AR or relative visit your home and complete a report. You can read more about your follow up visit here.
You and your student should have an in person or phone conversation with your Area Representative at the beginning of each month.
You should expect an in-person visit from your AR at least once per semester.

Resources

Hear it from these Host Dads

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be a Host Family?

To be a Host Family is to agree to welcome a high school foreign exchange student into your home, to live as part of your family while they attend your local high school, for anywhere from a few weeks to 10 months! At Pan Atlantic Foundation, we guide and support you through this process from start to finish!

What is Pan Atlantic Foundation?

Pan Atlantic Foundation is a non-profit organization designated by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor high school foreign exchange students to spend an academic semester or year in the United States. We are a small organization, providing the personal and thoughtful support that our community of host families, students and representatives deserve! We are all united in our mission to make the world a friendlier place, and at Pan Atlantic, you will quickly feel as part of our growing family!

How do I get accepted as a host family?

Families interested in hosting are guided through the process by a local Area Representative in their community. The screening includes a home visit, an in-person interview, an online application, and a background check. Click here if you are ready to get started!

Does a family receive compensation for hosting a Pan Atlantic Foundation student?

No, they do not. Per Department of State regulation, students who travel on J1 visas are required to be placed with strictly volunteer host families. However, families do qualify for a $50 a month tax deduction. Read more

What are my primary responsibilities as a host family?

Pan Atlantic Foundation host parents are volunteers who must be at least 25 years old and able to provide the following:

A welcoming home for a student for either one or two semesters
Family support
A bedroom and a bed (students can share rooms with children of the same gender within four years of his/her age)
An appropriate place to study
Meals at home and school. However, if a student chooses to purchase a school lunch, it is at their own expense.
Assistance coordinating appropriate transportation

Do I get to choose my student?

Once you have been accepted as a Pan Atlantic Foundation host family, your Area Representative will share with you the profiles of students in need of a host family in your area. Together, you and your Area Representative will select a student who will be a good fit for your family's interests and lifestyle.

Are the students allowed to participate in after-school activities?

Yes. They are allowed and encouraged to participate in sports and school activities.

Are the students allowed to drive?

Students are not allowed to drive. However, they are allowed to ride with friends and take public transportation.

How long is the student’s stay?

Students stay for either one semester or two semesters.

Is there a tax deduction for the host family?

Yes, the current deduction is $50 a month.

Will my student come with his/her own spending money?

Yes - the students bring between $150-$250 a month to cover things such as school fees, clothing, entertainment, mobile phones, and/or any other personal items they might need to purchase.

When can I expect my student to arrive?

Student arrivals are typically coordinated with the host family availability and school start dates. Most students arrive the week before the first day of school.

When does my student have to leave?

Most students depart within two weeks of the school end date.

Will I, as the host family, be in contact with my Area Representative throughout the year?

Yes. Your Area Representative is there to support you and your student throughout the entire experience! They will be in contact with you, at least once a month, but are available any time you have questions.

What happens if the placement doesn’t work out?

Pan Atlantic Foundation is there to support your successful experience, in any way possible. But, if for some reason, after working with you and your student, it becomes evident that it is not a mutually positive situation, Pan Atlantic Foundation and your Area Representative will begin work to secure a new host family for the student.

Is Pan Atlantic Foundation a non-profit organization?

Pan Atlantic Foundation is a non-profit organization. This means that we are a 501(c)(3) organization, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

What kind of visa do the students receive?

Our students travel on a J1 Visa sponsored by the Department of State.

Personal Reviews

Student Insurance

Students have Aetna Passport to Healthcare Primary PPO

To find an Aetna provider visit www.aetna.com/docfind/custom/passport

Insurance Claims should be mailed to
Administrative Concepts, Inc.
994 Old Eagle School Road, Suite 1005
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
Fax: (610) 293-9299

Please Note-

Student Insurance does not cover sports physicals or vaccinations. Student and their natural parents are aware of this policy.
Only life threatening issues should be taken to the ER. If a student uses the ER for medical attention and they are not admitted it will cost them $350. You can use this flow chart to see where is best to seek medical attention.

Prescriptions
When a student receives a prescription they will need to pay for that prescription upfront. However, a claims form can be completed and sent to the insurance company for reimbursement.
1. Make sure your student keeps the itemized bill/prescription. It will list the Rx and the price of each Rx.
2. Print, complete and sign the Insurance Clam Form
3. Mail or e-mail the claim form within 60 days of the medical visit.
4. Have student keep all copies until their reimbursement is received.