Host Family Code of Conduct

The Host Family Code of Conduct sets out the guidelines and expectations for host behavior participating in the CVISP Homestay Program.

Please read through the following links carefully and contact us at international@sd71.bc.ca if you have any questions. It is your responsibility as the Host (as well as any other applicant named on your application form and registered by CVISP Homestay as a Host) to ensure all residents in your Home abide by the obligations outlined in this Code.

Host Family Code of Conduct

The Host Family will provide the Student with a safe, healthy, caring and loving environment during the Student’s stay in their home. Generally, the Host Family will treat the Student as a member of their family. The Host Family will interact with the Student daily, will encourage the Student to participate in the Host Family’s activities and will treat the Student with kindness and respect. Include your Student in normal activities and help them to learn. Your Student’s privacy is important, but you should make a genuine effort to involve them in your Home and community. Be flexible, sensitive and patient when communicating with your Student and use clear, understandable English.

The Host Family will assist the Student in establishing local contacts with banking institutions, appropriate medical providers, a mobile phone provider, and identify a safe place in case of emergency.  Host need to explain the process of calling 911 and ensure the Student has the home address saved in their phone for quick reference.

The Host Family will not exhibit abusive, aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behaviour toward the Student, and will not permit any family members or guests to exhibit such behaviour. The Host Family will honour and respect the Student’s privacy.

The Host Family will not initiate or participate in any sexually oriented communications or acts with the Student and will take reasonable steps to prevent the Student’s access to sexually explicit photographs, written materials, films or other media in the home.

The Host Family will monitor the Student for age-appropriate relationships and ensure that the Student is not unsupervised behind closed doors with peers who are in a romantic relationship.

The host will immediately notify CVISP Homestay of any incident or allegation of child abuse.

The Host Family will maintain open communication, by phone, text message, e-mail or in person as deemed necessary by CVISP Homestay Team.

The Host Family will respond within 24 hours to all communications received from the CVISP Homestay Team.

The Host Family will allow the CVISP Homestay Team or another representative of the Comox Valley International Student Program to enter the Host Family’s home, with reasonable notice to the Host Family, for the purpose of ensuring or confirming the Student’s well-being and care.

The Host Family will keep CVISP Homestay informed of any issues or concerns relating to the Student and will take all reasonable action to ensure and support the Student’s full participation in the Program, including as related to the Student’s enrollment in School. The Host Family will contact the CVISP Homestay Team promptly if the Host Family learns that the Student is experiencing academic, emotional or social difficulties.

The Host Family will notify the school if the Student is going to be late or absent from school; the reason for the tardiness or absence must be provided. Notify CVISP Homestay if you believe there has been excessive non-attendance from school

The Host Family will encourage the Student to limit the duration and frequency of communication with their home-country friends and family to the extent necessary to promote the Student’s successful participation in the Program.

CVISP Homestay will take reasonable steps to assist Hosts and Students in the event of an emergency or other issue and will answer any questions you have about CVISP Homestay’s services. Students and Hosts have access to 24/7 support.

Contact Homestay coordinators on weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm.

After-hours Emergency Support is offered after 5 pm, and during weekends and holidays.

In keeping with the provisions of the agreements, CVISP Homestay is committed to creating positive outcomes for all Homestay participants and may act to remove a Student from a Homestay or take any other action it deems to be in the best interests of the Student, Host or CVISP Homestay at any time. CVISP Homestay will make every attempt to assist if emergency accommodation is required.

The following are program guidlines.  Hosts may make changes to fit reasonable household rules.

Grade 7 & 8

Sunday to Thursday – 8:00pm
Friday & Saturday – 9:00pm

Grade 9 & 10

Sunday to Thursday – 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday – 10:00pm

Grade 11 & 12

Sunday to Thursday – 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday – 12:00am

The home of the Host Family must be equipped with all utilities including heat, hot water, electricity, wireless internet, etc. Help your Student settle into a comfortable and safe Home.

The Student should have internal access to the Home at all times, meaning you must provide a key, security code or other means of entry in case you are not present at the Home at any time.

The Host Family will provide the Student with a structurally sound, clean, private bedroom accessible from within the home with a door. The Student should be provided with convenient access to a lockable bathroom and toilet facilities. Suitable bedroom requirements:

a.) Bed (twin bed at minimum including a frame and mattress reasonably new and in good repair). Futons, day beds, air mattresses, and mattresses without frames are not permitted.
b.) The student must be provided with clean and reasonably new appropriate bedding, linens, towels, pillows, etc. in good condition.
c.) Desk and chair (reasonably new and well-kept; presentable)
d.) Dresser or chest of drawers and proper hanging space for clothing
e.) Appropriate, high-quality lighting illuminating the room for study and projects
f.) Comfortably cool/warm depending on the season.

The Host Family will provide the Student with access to wireless internet with sufficient bandwidth to support school work and communication apps such as Zoom or FaceTime.

The Host Family will provide the Student with access to a kitchen and living facilities including a washer and dryer and assist them in learning to use the facilities appropriately.

The Host Home must be fitted with working smoke detectors and comply with all local codes and regulations.

The Host Family shall not require the Student to maintain the Host Family home or yard, babysit, cook, prepare family meals, except to the extent which the activity is a part of the family’s typical socialization. The Host Family may require the Student to maintain and clean his/her own belongings and private quarters and to observe reasonable standards of tidiness and cleanliness in common areas within the home.

The Student is prohibited from possessing, consuming and being under the influence of alcohol, tobacco products, vaping products, and drugs. The Host Family will not purchase these items for the Student nor provide the Student with said items of any kind. The Host Family will take reasonable steps to prevent the Student’s access to alcohol, tobacco products, vaping products, and drugs in the home.

The Host Family will not engage in, nor associate with any person related to, the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs or controlled substances. The Host Family, family members and students will not engage in excessive consumption of illegal or controlled substances in the presence of or while caring for the Student.

Students are required to abide by the CVISP Student Agreement. A copy of the Student Agreement can be viewed here.  The Host Family is expected to review and become familiar with the Student Agreement. In the event Host Family becomes aware of any Student violation or potential violation of the Student Agreement, Host Family Agrees to immediately report such incident to the CVISP Homestay Staff.

The Host Family will establish house rules before the Student arrives. Within 72 hours of arrival, the Host Family will provide a home tour and openly communicate with the Student to discuss house and bathroom rules, expectations, and standards of behavior while the Student is living with the Host Family. Make your Student aware of the layout of the Home, any instructions (for household appliances or amenities such as a pool). The Host Family will ensure that a written copy of the House Rules is available to the Student at all times.

Hosts must notify CVISP Homestay, in advance, of any short-term visitors or new residents so that appropriate checks can be arranged.

No more than two international students may reside in the home, unless approved by CVISP Homestay Management; No other international student may reside in the home from another agency or student service provider without prior notification to and approval from CVISP Homestay.

The Host Family will not lend money to the Student, nor accept a loan from a Student. The Host Family will not open any joint account nor make any financial arrangement with the Student.  The Host Family will not co-sign on any accounts and will never exchange money directly with Students or their family members. The host family agrees not to discuss financial matters with Students including those related to this agreement.

The Host Family will attend all information and orientation sessions and host family gatherings organized by CVISP Homestay. If the Host Family will be unable to attend any of these functions or events, then the Host Family will give prior notice to the CVISP Homestay Support Staff.

The Host Family will ensure that the Student removes all their belongings at the conclusion of residency. The Host Family will consult with CVISP Homestay Staff for storage of the Student’s personal belongings.

The Host will provide CVISP Homestay with at least two weeks’ notice if going on holidays without the Student so that a suitable temporary homestay can be arranged.

Make yourself and your Home available to your Student. You must be a permanent resident of the Home and be available to your Student on a reasonably frequent basis. You must specifically be present at the Home when your Student first arrives or arrange for a trusted friend or family member with a current background check to be present. Your Student should also be able to contact you within reasonable hours.

The Host Family must always reside in the home. Any exceptions must be notified and approved by CVISP. The Host Family will ensure that the Student is not unsupervised for more than six hours if 15 years old or younger unless previously approved by CVISP Homestay Support Staff; the Student will not be unsupervised for more than twelve hours if 17 years old or younger unless previously approved by CVISP Homestay Staff. The Student will not be unsupervised overnight under any condition.

Host families agree to monitor the Students’ whereabouts at all times and provide standard parenting activities such as transportation to and from school, (and to academic and some extracurricular events, and attend parent/teacher meetings, orientations, and other such meetings if agreed upon as part of the student’s placement)

The Host will never leave the Student alone at Home overnight or without an approved adult who has a current background check and notifying CVISP Homestay immediately of any overnight visitors who are not permanent residents with the appropriate checks.

The Host Family will provide or ensure the Student has access to three proper and nutritious meals per day. Hosts will work with students to understand their meal preferences and provide a reasonable variety of options for each meal.

Breakfast may be self-serve food options, but hosts must work with students to understand how to access and prepare food.

Lunch on non-school days may be self-serve food options provided by the host. On school days, students can be shown how to pack their own lunch using self-serve food options provided by the host or will purchase lunch at school at their own expense.

Hot, home-cooked dinners must be prepared regularly and provided for students each night, with exceptions of restaurant food or leftovers. Leftovers, instant or frozen food is acceptable as an exception but not on a regular basis.

The student must always have access to clean, safe drinking water and reasonable, student-preferred nutritious snacks unless food is being regulated for a medical or health reason.

 

CVISP After Hours Emergency Number

After-hours Emergency Support is offered after 5 pm, during weekends, and holidays.

Call 250-703-6938

Emergency Medical Care

If the Host Family has a reason to believe the Student requires emergency medical care, then the Host Family will promptly take the Student to the nearest hospital or emergency care center. If necessary, call 911 for urgent medical attention.

Non-Emergency Medical Care

If the Student experiences a minor illness or requires non-emergency medical care, the Host Family will expediently assist the student to make an appointment with a medical or dental provider.  The host will assist with arranging transportation for the student for medical appointments.

In the event of any emergency involving or impacting the Student, the Host Family will contact the CVISP Homestay Staff and the main office of CVISP as soon as is practicable. This includes serious illness, injury, or hospitalization; arrest or detention by authorities; a violation of CVISP rules regarding driving, hitchhiking; or any other display of potentially harmful behaviour, including, but not limited to, underage alcohol consumption or the use of illegal substances.

Read about the types of Student Medical coverage provided by CVISP and ways your student can access medical care.

Both Hosts and Students must: 

Treat each other and every other person in the Home in a fair, respectful and polite manner. This means being considerate of other peoples’ feelings and needs and includes things like not touching any person or their personal property without their permission, keeping your environment clean and tidy and saying thank you to someone who does something for you.

Understand that your customs or beliefs may be different to those of your Student. Have an open mind. One of the most important benefits of a Homestay is ‘cultural exchange’ – the chance to learn about someone else’s experiences and values. All participants need to be treated with respect, including when carrying out reasonable cultural or religious practices in the Home. Discrimination of any kind is not acceptable.

Work together to make the Homestay a success. It is very important that both Students and Hosts make an effort to communicate clearly and effectively about important matters and cooperate to resolve any misunderstandings or issues that might arise. It takes contribution from both sides to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment within the Home. Make sure that you provide your Student or Host with current contact details and any other important information about you they should know, and be careful not to share any information you receive with anyone else without the Student or Hosts’ permission.

Show your Student around the community. Help your Student to understand the route to and from their school. If this involves public transport, show them how to buy bus passes. Make your Student aware of places of interest within the community such as shops, parks and important services such as banks, post offices and local police stations. Also, ensure they know the emergency contact number is 911.

The Host Family will be responsible for the Student’s airport pick-up at the beginning of each Enrollment Period and airport drop-off at the end of each Enrollment Period, as well as airport drop-off and pick-up when the Student travels to their home country during School breaks (only applies to the Comox Valley airport).

The Host Family does not permit the International Student to operate any motorized vehicles. CVISP does not permit International Students to obtain a driver’s permit/license while participating in the Program.

The host will ensure the Student is not travelling by public transport late at night. Hosts should pick Students up from late-night school events or encourage them to take a taxi.

The Host Family will ensure adequate arrangements are in place for transportation of the Student to and from school and school related activities that contribute to the Student’s engagement with the Program.

The safety of our students is our top priority. All students in High School and Younger and their host families are required to comply with the CVISP Student Travel Policy while participating in the Program. Please contact your CVISP Homestay Support Staff with any questions.

The Host Family will ensure adequate arrangements are in place for transportation of the Student to and from school and school-related activities that contribute to the Student’s engagement with the Program. The Host Family understands and acknowledges that CVISP Homestay does not authorize, approve or condone a Student using third-party ride-sharing services, such as Uber, without an adult member of the Host Family present. Unaccompanied students can use licensed taxi services provided the travel is otherwise in compliance with the CVISP Student Travel Policy and the policies of the taxi service provider. Depending on the nature of the travel, documentation and approval requirements apply.

For students in high school or younger enrolled in the CVISP Homestay Program, The Host Family will be responsible for Student’s airport pick-up at the beginning of each Enrollment Period and airport drop-off at the end of each Enrollment Period, as well as airport drop-off and pick-up in the event the Student travels to their home country during Winter and Spring breaks (only applies to the designated airports, and at pre-specified arrival and departure dates and times). The Host Family shall bear all the costs arising from failure to fulfill this responsibility.

Note: This policy is subject to change at any time. Please check all CVISP Homestay Policies on a regular basis for updates.