Your child's safety at home is the concern we hear most often, and reputable homestay programs address it through screening, home visits and ongoing monitoring.
- Background checks: CAPS-I standards require criminal record, police record, vulnerable sector and child abuse registry checks on hosts, together with reference checks.
- Home visits: Programs visit the home to confirm the student will have a private bedroom and three nutritious meals and snacks daily.
- Written expectations: Host families sign a formal code of conduct or agreement that clearly defines what is expected of them.
- Ongoing monitoring: Homestay coordinators monitor student well-being and have a process for handling conflicts and relocating a student if needed.
- Emergency contact: CAPS-I member programs provide a 24-hour emergency contact for international students and host families.
Please note: These are CAPS-I membership standards; ask any program outside CAPS-I to show its own screening procedures.
Official sources: CAPS-I: Standards of Practice · CAPS-I: Accommodation for international students · Central Okanagan Public Schools: Homestay requirements
Would you like these answers applied to your child's situation?
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More questions on this topic
- Where do international students live: homestay or boarding school residence?
- How many meals a day does a homestay student receive?
- Can my child change host families if there is a problem?
- What is custodianship, and why is it required for younger students?
- Does the school or the agency provide custodianship support?
- Can a parent come to Canada and stay with the student?
- What are the curfew and sign-out rules for students living in a boarding residence?
- Can the host family be matched to my child's religious or dietary needs, such as halal or vegetarian?