🔷 Host Family Requirements
OCEAN host families represent a diverse range of households, including single adults, couples, families with children, and retirees. While backgrounds may differ, all share a common commitment to providing a safe, stable, and welcoming home environment.
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Host families participate on a volunteer basis and are asked to provide:
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A secure and supportive home
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A separate bed for the student (a shared room is permitted with a same-gender host sibling age 12 or older)
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Regular meals and inclusion in daily family life
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Guidance, structure, and a sense of belonging
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Students arrive fully prepared for their experience. Each student is carefully screened, insured, and equipped with personal funds to cover individual expenses such as school supplies, clothing, and activities.
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🔷 The Value of Hosting
Welcoming an international student into your home is a meaningful cultural exchange grounded in mutual respect and understanding.
Host families gain a unique window into another culture while offering a student the opportunity to experience life in an American home. These relationships are often lasting, extending well beyond the program itself.
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For many families, hosting is not simply an experience—it is a lasting connection that becomes part of their family’s story.
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🔷 Host Family Approval Process
OCEAN maintains clear standards to ensure the safety and well-being of both students and host families.
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All prospective host families complete the following process:
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Submission of a host family application
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Provision of at least three personal references
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Completion of a criminal background check
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In-home visit and interview conducted by a local area representative
Our team works closely with each family throughout this process to ensure clarity, comfort, and readiness.
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🔷 Required Forms
To begin the application process, please complete the following:
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🔷 Next Steps
Families who are interested in hosting are invited to begin the application or connect with a local representative to learn more.
We are available to answer questions and guide you through each step of the process.
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