On Tuesday, April 28, we held the Spring National Hosting Call and shared updates, ideas, and resources for the NH26 Hosting Cycle. Thank you to everyone who joined us and for the energy and commitment you continue to bring to hosting and welcoming students into communities.

We have three months until the July 23, 2026, First Arrival Placement Deadline, and we have an exciting challenge for all AFS volunteers. Be sure to encourage all your Area Team Volunteers to participate, too! We have four volunteers who have shared who they are championing. Be sure to let us know, too! Here is what you do:

• Log in to the MyAFS Placement Widget and take time to read about the students who are still waiting for a host family.
• Select one student they connect with and let their Regional Director or Field Specialist know who they selected. From there, help share that student within your neighborhood, schools, community groups, friends, family, and social networks. You will be entered into a drawing for a prize when the student is placed.

This hosting cycle, we have been focused on completing every piece of the NH26 Placement Puzzle. We are excited that 400 pieces have been completed, but we have 200+ more to go, and TOGETHER we can make it happen. Here are the resources shared on the National Hosting Call:

• Your Team has an opportunity to promote a GER or ITA as part of the Spring 2 Week Hold Promo – MyAFS News
• Be sure to utilize the New host family promotional toolkit and other resources available by month in the Volunteer Resources Calendar
• Check out this article about leveraging AI for host family recruitment/AFS outreach – from one volunteer to another.
• Seeking TikTok video testimonials from host families – referrals can be sent to marketing@afsusa.org!

One of the highlights of the call was having volunteers share how they are promoting AFS in their communities: personal conversations and word of mouth remain among the most effective tools, with volunteers sharing their hosting experiences with friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. Social media also continues to be a valuable platform for sharing student bios, host family stories, and program updates. Many volunteers are building awareness through school and community partnerships by hosting information tables, participating in international nights and local festivals, sharing through school newsletters and district communications, and maintaining relationships with former host families and schools. Others are reaching new audiences through flyers, library bookmarks, church groups, community organizations, and simply wearing AFS shirts out in the community. Across the country, volunteers continue to show that authentic relationships and community connections help more families discover AFS.

Do you want to connect with other Hosting Volunteers throughout the USA? The Hosting Advisory Group would like you to join the Hosting Volunteer Group to share ideas and connect. Complete this form if you are interested in joining.

• If you would like to connect with AFS volunteers around the USA, join the AFS International Global Hosting Volunteer Meet-Up this Saturday at 8 am ET – Register here.

As End-of-Stay Orientations approach, please remember to capture testimonials, photos, and videos that help tell the story of exchange and share those with AFS-USA. If you support outreach efforts on your team or through social media, consider joining the Marketing Leader Meet Ups for the most up-to-date resources and to collaborate across teams!

If you would like to become more involved in promoting AFS students in your community, please reach out to your Field Specialist. If you are not sure who your Field Specialist is, please contact Kate Sullivan at ksullivan@afsusa.org for the East Region or Sara Roberts at sroberts@afsusa.org for the West Region.

We look forward to hearing about and celebrating the successes that come in the months ahead.

Together, We Make Exchange Possible.