Dear Volunteers,

Before we head into the holidays, we want to express our gratitude to you for everything you have been doing to help AFS participants and host families have positive experiences. We hope you will be able to enjoy the holidays with your friends and families peacefully and without interruptions!

However, if needed, Duty Officers will be available for the following types of emergencies while the office is closed from Tuesday, December 24th until Thursday, January 2nd:

• Emergency Moves
• Medical Emergency: Hospitalization and serious medical issues/injuries
• Sexual misconduct: Student victim or perpetrator
• Arrest/Police involvement
• Runaways
• Suicidal thoughts
• Natural Disasters
• Death in natural family
• Student’s physical and psychological safety compromised in any way
• Breaking any of the three AFS rules: No driving, No Hitchhiking, No drugs.

To contact the Duty Officer dial 1-800-AFS-INFO x9.

Any non-emergency situations will be handled when the office reopens on January 2nd.

We wish you happy holidays !

AFS-USA Participant Support Staff