World Heritage Lake Erie Office
September 2015
Welcome to Our Students!!
Orientation- Getting off on the Right Foot!
As I've mentioned before, orientations are SO important. If we don't do a good job communicating the expectations to the host family and student, connecting with them and guiding them, then how can we expect them to do a good job hosting or participating in the program?
Most of your host family orientations are complete. Thank you!
As you are doing your student orientations, please be sure that you are conducting that at a location that is NOT the host family home. Also, the orientation must take place within the first 2 weeks the student is here.
Don't forget to log these in the database and then send me the completed and signed postcard.
Initial Stipend Payments
In order for your first stipend payment to be released for the student(s) you are supervising this year the following must be completed:
• All placement paperwork complete; application, home visit form, 3 references, school administrator letter & 5 pictures
• Host Family Orientation
• Student Orientation
• Orientation postcard signed/dated by both families & students—and sent to me
• Orientation contacts logged and entered in the database at db.asse.com
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Monthly Contacts- Do Them Early!
Each month from the time the student arrives, you must speak with both the student and one host parent either in person or by phone. Texts and emails do not count! Be sure to take care of these early in the month as to not run out of time. You never know when someone is going to be able to be reached, so don't wait until the end of the month!!
You will then enter this contact into the database under that monthly contact for that month.
You will enter the date the conversation took place, the type of contact it was (phone, in-person) and a summary of what the person shared with you. Please note that for families with two host parents, you must speak with the mother and father throughout the year, alternating months. So if you spoke to the mother in August, be sure to contact the father in September.
Please be sure to ask more than just yes/no questions and to vary the questions each month. I'm attaching a list of questions that you can refer to for ideas.
AND ALWAYS HIT "SAVE"!! If the contact is saved correctly, it will close the box and take you back to the previous screen. This is how you know it's saved!
Activities- Plan Ahead!!
What types of things can you do for an activity?
If your student is "Enhanced" then 2 of the activities must be "cultural". That can be anything that reflects the history of the area (Native American pow-wow, tour of a historical area, museum) or unique customs (Halloween, harvest activities, town festivals) and forms of expression (music events, dramas, etc.) I'll send out a list of Enhanced students in case you are not sure your student falls into this category.
Aside from the enhanced activities, you can do just about anything with your students. Just try to make it something fun but also something that allows for you to have quality time finding out how they are doing.
Contact info
Email: kristi@world-heritage.org
Website: www.world-heritage.org
Location: 422 Frazier Ave. Akron, OH 44305
Phone: 855-967-5399
Verification Visits
Verification visits are secondary home visits to be completed by another area representative. The purpose of these visits is to have a secondary look at the host families’ home, if you are asked to complete a verification visit please remember you are evaluating the home- not the family. Please tell your families that another representative will be contacting them to complete this required visit.
Important things to remember:
· Verification Visits occur between 35-45 days after student arrival
· Please complete the visit within the dates I have given you
· Fill out every section of the Verification Home Visit Form
· The pay is $150 per household (i.e. double placement & single placement pay the same)
· No photos need to be taken
· If a student changes host families, another verification visit will need to be completed
HELP WANTED- Area Rep Recruitment
We need more people like you to make sure ALL of our students get placed for the next school year! I’m looking to add more representatives to our team in all of our states- Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West. New York.
Please let me know if you know anyone in your area that may be interested.
The Ideal Candidate:
· Should be at least 26 years old
· Loves working with teens (particularly foreign teens)
· Be willing and able to network in their community
· Have an interest in learning about other cultures
· Have a lot of enthusiasm!
If you are the only rep in your area, consider speaking to friends and acquaintances about becoming a "buddy rep".
If you each have a small number of students placed you can work together on doing host family and student orientations and student activities together! When it comes time to do verification visits you could do them for each other to earn a little extra cash.
Please refer any interested parties to me!