Safety and Support

Preparation for the NSLI-Y experience begins in the spring, shortly after finalists are notified of their acceptance in the program.

Students participate in pre-program language learning activities and complete required assignments and assessments in preparation for the program. They are also required to attend a pre-departure orientation.

The purpose of the orientation is to prepare students to be safe and successful exchange participants. Topics generally include health and safety, NSLI-Y goals and expectations, program information and schedules, program rules and guidelines, an overview of the host culture, how to deal with culture shock, the participant’s role as a citizen ambassador, and teambuilding activities. Attendance at the pre-departure orientation is mandatory. While parent(s)/guardian(s) may be included in various preparation activities, family members are not permitted to attend the in-person pre-departure orientation.

Participants travel from the pre-departure orientation to the overseas host location with their NSLI-Y cohort on a chaperoned flight.

Upon arrival, implementing organizations orient participants on their daily transportation to and from their host school and in the community.  Participants may be expected to use public transportation independently.

On-program, participants are not allowed to travel independently outside of the host community and have a curfew.

Established and reputable international exchange organizations support NSLI-Y participants in the host community. While on a NSLI-Y program abroad, participants have regular contact with a trained local coordinator and/or resident director who provides additional assistance when necessary.

NSLI-Y programs abroad include homestays with host families who have been carefully screened and selected by the implementing organization. Some programs place participants in host families for the program duration. Other programs place participants in well-monitored dormitories and assign them to host families for weekends or a segment of the program.  

Many alumni describe the host family experience as an important element of their NSLI-Y experience. Living with a local family strengthens understanding of the host culture, target language, and daily life in the community.

Host families are chosen through a careful selection process with assistance from the host institution, host community partners, and/or volunteers. Prospective host families are interviewed in their homes and must provide references. All host families participate in an orientation to sensitize them to cultural differences and to prepare them for the hosting experience.

Implementing organizations do their best to match host families and participants based on application materials and the placement information participants provide in their NSLI-Y application. The most important criteria for selecting a host family are that the family can provide a safe, nurturing environment and have a genuine interest in cultural exchange.

It’s important for NSLI-Y participants and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to remember that each host family experience is unique; NSLI-Y does not require that host families have children. Flexibility, on the part of the participant and their parent(s)/guardian(s), is critical for a successful host family experience. In NSLI-Y host family accommodations:

• Participants are provided with their own bed, but not necessarily their own bedroom.
• Participants may or may not have host siblings; host families may consist of an adult couple or a single adult.
• If participants have host siblings, they may or may not be the same gender or of a similar age.
• Some participants may be the only NSLI-Y student with the host family; others may be placed with another NSLI-Y student in the same family.
• Participants may commute independently to their host school from their host family’s home using public transportation. Some NSLI-Y programs are hosted in large cities and therefore, commutes could take significant time (approximately 60 minutes each way).
• Host families may or may not have internet connection in their homes. Internet availability and speed may be unreliable and vary among and within host cities and countries.
• Host families typically do not speak much, if any, English.
• Implementing organizations notify host families of any participant allergies or medical conditions on a need-to-know basis.  Host families cannot be expected to administer medication or medical treatments or monitor medical conditions. 
• Finalists and their guardians/parents are not given the option to designate preferences for host family placement or composition. If a NSLI-Y finalist rejects a valid host family placement, the finalist’s scholarship may be terminated.
• Throughout the program, NSLI-Y resident directors or local coordinators provide support to participants and host families mitigate any challenges or concerns.

With safety as a top priority, all participants are required to follow the NSLI-Y Terms and Conditions. The participant’s parent(s)/guardian(s) should thoroughly review the NSLI-Y Terms and Conditions with their child at the application stage and again if selected as a semi-finalist and finalist. Participants are also required to follow the guidelines of their NSLI-Y implementing organization, which are often specific to the host community. Failure to comply with the Terms and Conditions or guidelines may result in cancellation of the scholarship or early dismissal from the program.

NSLI-Y Administration distributes a medical evaluation form to all semi-finalists at the time of notification.

Medical review is only initiated after an applicant is selected as a finalist or alternate. The finalist’s or alternate’s medical evaluation forms are reviewed by independent medical professionals. The medical review process may be lengthy. During this period, finalists and alternates may be asked to provide additional information related to the medical review. The result of the medical review determines if a candidate meets medical requirements for program placement and participation in NSLI-Y. Delayed responses in the medical review process and/or withholding relevant health information may result in cancellation of the NSLI-Y scholarship or dismissal from the program.

Review Terms and Conditions for more information about medical review requirements.

NSLI-Y provides participants with supplementary/secondary health coverage (ASPE) for accidents and illnesses while abroad. Read more about the coverage on the ASPE website. Because ASPE is secondary coverage and not a full health insurance plan, NSLI-Y families should maintain primary health insurance for the participant during the NSLI-Y program.

Every NSLI-Y implementing organization provides 24-hour assistance in the event of a health or safety emergency and facilitates appropriate medical treatment, including evacuation, if necessary. NSLI-Y program staff monitor the safety of program participants and consult regularly with the U.S. Department of State and external risk management organizations.