BridgeUSA Local Coordinator Requirements

To move forward with the local coordinator application process, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen and at least 25 years old authorized to work in the United States.  
• Be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Demonstrate a valid driver’s license and own a vehicle.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED. 

To begin working with CIEE BridgeUSA as a local coordinator, you must complete training through:

• CIEE BridgeUSA, which includes instruction in:
  • Awareness or knowledge of child safety standards
  • Procedures for handling and reporting emergency situations
  • Conflict resolution
  • Criteria to be used to screen potential host families and exercise good judgment when identifying what constitutes suitable host family placements
  • Procedures for handling and reporting allegations of sexual misconduct or any other allegations of abuse or neglect
  • Information on sexual conduct codes
  • Additional trainings as required
• U.S. Department of State, which includes instruction in:
  • The Exchange Visitor Program (now known as BridgeUSA)
  • BridgeUSA’s public diplomacy objectives
  • Official rules and regulations

Should you want to continue with the local coordinator role beyond your first year, you’ll receive refresher training to stay in compliance.

And regional staff members work directly with local coordinators to guide them through initial training modules and provide additional support and training throughout the year.

Keeping in touch with your international participants and host families is crucial to ensuring a good experience for everyone involved. You’ll be required to, at minimum:

• Set a monthly schedule of personal contact with the exchange student.
  • The first month and every other month, you must check in with the exchange student in-person.  
• Set a monthly schedule of personal contact with the host family.
  • At least once during the fall semester and at least once during the spring semester, the contact by the local coordinator with the host family must be in-person.
• Submit a supervision report regarding communication, well-being, integration with family and school  
  • First in-person contact with host family once a semester
  • Monthly phone check-ins with host families and students

Qualities that CIEE looks for in local coordinators includes:

• Creativity
• Patience
• Persistence
• Strong communication and social skills  
• Collaboration
• Problem-solving
• Networking
• Objectivity
• An understanding of cultural differences
• A desire to work with international youth