Rotary Youth Exchange - Club Compliance Certification

The Rotary Club of (Club), in District 5050 is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants in Rotary activities. It is the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians spouses, partners and any other volunteer to safeguard to the best of their ability the welfare of and to prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of young people with whom they come in contact.

The club certifies that it will adhere to the District 5050 Youth Exchange Abuse and Harassment policy, and will also adhere to the procedures and practices, listed below if involved in Rotary Youth Exchange program for the year 2015-2016.

Pre-arrival Recruit suitable host families through the use of reference checks, host family

applications, host family interviews and home visitation. At least two host families are required, three preferred.

All US clubs must comply with the Department of State laws regarding "Secondary School Student Exchange Program" It is the law!

Carry out criminal background checks of all host family members who are 18 years and older. Background checks must be clean and must be retained by the club Youth Exchange Officer as per District retention guidelines. Background checks are only good for one year.

Carry out criminal background checks of all volunteers involved in the program. This requirement includes the counselor, Club chair and all Rotarians and their spouses or partners with direct unsupervised contact with the student. Background checks need not be conducted for adults who will have only casual or occasional group interactions with Youth Exchange Students.

Advise the District Inbound Coordinator of all host families receiving a clean criminal background check.

Carry out suitable training for Host Families and attend District run Counselor and Youth Exchange Officer training sessions.

Ensure that the necessary contacts are made with the student and his or her family in preparation.

Assign a Rotarian of the same gender as counselor and ensure their regular documented contact with the student.

First Week Ensure that the student is welcomed upon arrival. Provide emergency contact information to the student including: District Hotlines

for Inbound students, Host Club Rotary Counselor, Host Club Youth Exchange Chairperson, Host Club President, District Chair and Inbound Coordinator, 2 non

Rotarian resource persons (one male, one female (school personnel are typical candidates).

Ensure that the student's visa and documents (e.g.: DS- 2019 for US Inbound students) and return plane ticket are correct.

Ensure that the student's $500.00 emergency fund is set up with two signatures required to withdraw money.

Ensure that the student has Medical Insurance in accordance with the RI requirements.

Arrange for schooling. Open required bank accounts (personal and emergency)

Ongoing Ensure that the students attend the mandatory District functions for exchange

students such as Orientations and District Conference. Stay in touch with the host families to identify and respond to issues and

problems Ensure that the student regularly attends and participates in local Rotary

meetings. Ensure that the Counselor regularly meets with the student and maintains a

contact record.

Post Exchange • Conduct a post-exchange evaluation.

Signatures

We, the President and Youth Exchange Officer for the Rotary Club of ____________________________ , Club ID#______ _ , being the persons responsible for youth exchange activities in our Club, certify that our Club will adhere to the above outlined policies and procedures if our Club elects to be involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange in 2015-2016.

President

_____________________ ________________________ ___________(Print Name) (Signature) (Date)

President Contact Telephone Number:

President email: _____________________________________

Youth Exchange Officer

_____________________ ________________________ ___________(Print Name)

(Signature) (Date)