How to Deal with Issues for Inbound Students in School and at Home

AT SCHOOL:

If Host Parents are made aware of the issue between the school and the student, the host parents should begin by going through school channels to resolve the issue. At any time during this process, the host parents may communicate with the Rotary club’s Counselor for general information or advice. If the issue cannot be resolved, the host parents should contact the club Counselor for direct help.

↓     ↓     ↓

The club Counselor should go through school channels to help resolve the issue. The club Counselor may proceed up the Rotary chain of command as needed for assistance. This chain should include the club Youth Exchange Officer, the club President, and RMRYE district committee members including the country contact, inbound chair, the overall program chair, and the District Governor.

AT HOME:

The host family and student should openly and calmly discuss any issue which may be upsetting the family unit. Please remember the student is a young person alone in a foreign country with no other family support – be gentle. If the issue within the family remains unresolved, either party should speak with the student’s club Counselor for assistance.

↓     ↓     ↓

The club Counselor should begin dealing with the issue as soon as it has been called to his or her attention. The club Counselor may proceed up the Rotary chain of command as needed for assistance. This chain should include the club Youth Exchange Officer, the club President, and RMRYE district committee members including the country contact, inbound chair, the overall program chair, and the District Governor.

Sometimes families need a ‘break’ from the student. If this situation appears to be the case, the club Counselor should encourage background-cleared Rotarians to take the student out for a meal, for the day, or perhaps away for the weekend (subject to the travel notification requirements). During the entire resolution process, counterparts in the student’s home country are often informed of the situation by the student and the country Contact.

The RMRYE committee works hard to ensure fair and proper resolution. The student may be moved to another home, or as a last resort, sent home at the direction of the RMRYE overall program chair.

The student or the host parents may at any point in the process choose to document the issue by completing a confidential Incident Report, which suggests a very serious issue, or an Ad Hoc MAAD Report (student only), which implies a lesser concern.