[July 19, 2011] Host families needed for students Tweet NORMAN, Jul 16, 2011 (The Norman Transcript - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI), the nonprofit student exchange organization, seeks volunteer host families to host exchange students for the 2011-12 school year. Each year, CCI provides more than 1,000 exchange students from more than 50 countries the opportunity to study in local public high schools for a five-month semester or a 10-month Academic High School Year. "Host families make all of the difference," said Allison Graham, outreach and training manager. "They influence a young adult's life, changing world views and making dreams come true. When the family is so willing to give, they have just as many rewarding and enriching experiences as the student." Volunteer host families come from varied economic, religious and racial backgrounds and include working parents, empty nesters, singles and single parents. They are to provide: --Open communication, encouragement, patience and sound advice --A separate bed, which can be in a shared room with a host sibling of similar age and same gender and a quiet place to study --Three daily meals --Local transportation (students are not permitted to drive while in the program) --Treatment as a member of the family, which may include household rules, responsibilities and privileges. While host families are not compensated, the Internal Revenue Service has authorized families to claim a $50 per month charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns. Students have their own accident and health insurance and bring their own spending money. Students are encouraged to participate in school-sponsored activities, community service and environmental programs. CCI provides regular communication and support to both host families and students. Host family applications are being accepted until Aug. 15. For more information, visit www.cci-exchange.com/usprograms/host.aspx, email [email protected] or call 800-634-4771. To see more of The Norman Transcript or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.normantranscript.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Norman Transcript, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]