Midwest Region Host Family Application & Information

Each year, NPH USA arranges for student performers from an NPH home to travel to the United States for our Pequeño Tour. Families are needed to host performers in their homes. Their hospitality represents a major contribution to our program. It enriches the experience of the performers by allowing them to experience daily life in the United States. They also connect with the caring individuals who provide them with emotional support, food, clothing, education and medical care. By opening their homes, host families let NPH USA direct more proceeds from the Pequeño Tour to NPH in order to continue transforming the lives of the children is supports.

The pequeños from NPH El Salvador will be our guests from February 25 – March 14, 2016. This time will be split between three groups of host families:

1. February 25 – March 2: First shift
2. March 2 – March 10: Second shift
3. March 10 – March 14: Third shift

Please feel free to contact Katie Sommer, Development Coordinator for NPH USA, if you have any questions as you read these materials at (312) 386-7485 or ksommer@nphusa.org. Applications are due on January 8, 2016.

Host Family Responsibilities

1. Attend a mandatory host family orientation meeting; date TBD.
2. Complete a background check on all adults living in your home (anyone 18 or older).
3. Familiarize all members of your family with the orientation information.
4. Provide supervision whenever pequeños are in your home. One adult must be at home when the children are there, per the request of the NPH Country Director and insurance policy.
5. Provide food, rest, and comfort to the pequeños.
6. All homes must be smoke-free homes.
7. Provide transportation to and from the church for all Pequeño Tour events. NPH USA will provide van/bus transportation to the venues from the parish. A copy of the schedule will be provided to you at the orientation meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be able to speak Spanish in order to be a host family?

It is not required that host families speak Spanish. Breaking the language barrier can be quite a meaningful experience for both the host family and the pequeños. The pequeños have limited English and are usually not accustomed to conversational English. Try to speak to them slowly and simply while using gestures. Use your Spanish, however limited and feel free to reference a Spanish-English dictionary. When in doubt, use a Spanish-English dictionary and point to words. Please feel free to call any of the NPH USA staff if a communication problem occurs.

What if I work during the day?

The pequeños have quite a busy schedule during their stay and will be traveling to venues each day to perform their music and dance program. Host families are responsible for providing transportation to and from the central bus pick-up location at the church so that they pequeños may attend their various performances. The performance schedule is a very busy one and may include early morning and late travel. The children will travel together in a bus to and from each performance. Host families will need to drop the children off and pick them up only at the parish. Please be mindful of getting your pequeños where they need to be on time! If you are unable to drop off or pick up your pequeños, please arrange for another host family to do so.

Can I give my pequeños a gift?

For the children it is a great privilege to be chosen to travel to the States and become ambassadors for their brothers and sisters at NPH. This trip is a wonderful gift in and of itself! In following the teachings of Father Wasson, NPH asks that you please remember that the children share everything and are taught to value love and friendship over any tangible item. Please DO NOT give the children gifts. After staying with different host families, the children do not have room in their luggage for the gifts that quickly accumulate from their generous host families and sponsors. When the children return to the home they must give up any gifts they receive so as to share them with their other brothers and sisters, who did not have the opportunity to travel and experience this great trip. If you would like to give something to the children to remember their trip, we encourage you to give them a disposable camera and, at the end of their stay, develop the photos they have taken and put them in a small album with a letter from your family. We also encourage those who desire to help the pequeños to give the best gift of all — sponsor one of the 3,400 children at the orphan homes.

What type of food should I feed my pequeños?

The pequeños may be shy about helping themselves to food, beverages or second helpings. They like to experience new types of food so please be comfortable serving whatever food you would normally prepare. If it is easier for you, favorite foods and snacks that are very much appreciated are: fresh fruit, rolls with jam, hot chocolate, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, pizza, quesadillas, muffins, eggs, pancakes, and chicken. Remember that the children are not accustomed to rich foods or excessive amounts of food and are working very hard each day. Please do your best to provide them with healthy snacks and meals, as you would your own children. Some sack lunches/snacks will be necessary, so please be sure to pack healthy food with a bottle of water.

Click here for our Host Family Handbook.

Are you interested in being a host family? If so, please complete this online application. In addition to completing the application, you must submit a background check form for each individual age 18 or older who live in your home or will be home at the same time as the pequeños visit.

Completed background check forms can be submitted by:

• Scan/e-mail: ascott@nphusa.org
• Fax: 312-658-0040
• Mail to: Allison Scott, NPH USA Midwest Region, 134 N. LaSalle, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602-1036

Thank you!