First, we want to extend a huge thank you to all AFS-USA volunteers and staff for the dedication and hard work in placing 741 NH25 hosted students. Your relentless efforts to identify and confirm placements for NH25 students are the reason for AFS-USA’s collective placement outcomes – and are deeply appreciated.

As we celebrate the conclusion of the NH25 placement season and look ahead to the coming SH26 and NH26 placement cycles, AFS-USA is making some adjustments to further improve placement outcomes.

Each Area Team’s volunteers will receive an email on the evening of October 2nd from Sr. Director of Field Operations, Traci Larson-Lee, to explain how these adjustments will (or will not) impact your Team’s hosting staff contact (Field Specialist). In addition to the hosting staff contact, some resultant adjustments are also being made to school partnerships staff contacts and these will also be highlighted in the message.Each Area Team’s participant support specialist will remain the same. (Please Note: staff contacts can always be found in the “Team” section of MyAFS under Volunteers & Staff/AFS Staff)

In all cases, these adjustments are made in service of delivering strong support to AFS-USA Area Team volunteers as we strive to continue to improve hosting placement outcomes. New hosting staff contacts will be in touch with their respective Area Team hosting leaders within the next week or so as we work to ensure a smooth transition.

Thank you once again to all volunteers and staff for your dedicated efforts toward NH25 placement – and we look forward to a successful year to come!