Resources for BridgeUSA Host Families
Bookmark this page for easy access to helpful materials throughout your participation in the CIEE BridgeUSA High School program.
As part of CIEE’s Gold Standard Service, we’ll update this page with more resources that host families are seeking.
What is a Host Family?
Our CIEE host families are just as diverse as our international students. If you have a full house, or you're a single parent, or you’re even empty nesters, there’s a student interested in living with a family arrangement like yours.
Pre-Arrival Information
- Host Family Expenses: See how you could get a tax deduction for hosting – or even get reimbursed if your student is part of a grant program.
- Host Family Orientation: Gain a better understanding of what’s expected of both your family and your student.
- Local Coordinators: Get to know CIEE’s facilitators in your area.
- Student Program Rules: Familiarize yourself with the dos and don’ts for students during their program.
Support for Student Arrival and Beyond
- Adjustment Period: Find out ways to help your student with their transition to American life.
- Community Service Guidelines: Stay on top of your student’s required community service hours.
- Culture Shock Workbook: Take a look at the exercises you can do with your student during your adjustment period.
- Health Insurance: Discover more about what your student’s insurance covers during their stay.
- FAQs: Get answers to common questions host families have.
Intercultural Understanding
- CIA World Factbook: Learn about your student’s home country and culture.
- Stay on top of your student’s required community service hours:
Your CIEE Support Team
Host families that have questions, concerns, or issues during their student’s stay should contact CIEE.
- CIEE Support Team
- Between 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. EST Monday - Friday, call 1-800-448-9944. For after-hours emergencies, call the same number, but follow the prompts for the emergency line.
- For general support, email support@ciee.org.
- CIEE Insurance/Medical Attention
- For emergencies, call 1-888-268-6245.
- For general questions, email insurance@ciee.org.
Have other questions? Learn more on our Host Families FAQ page.