A New Ally in the War on Foreign Exchange Program Compliance
For those of you who read my previous post on my family’s experience with ASSE International Student Exchange, you know that it was quite an eye opening, gut wrenching, blood boiling experience. The saga is still not over, but due to actions already in play an update will have to wait until the dust settles.
I want to take this opportunity to give a public heartfelt “THANK YOU” to Danielle Grijalva at CSFES (Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students). Ms. Grijalva formed CSFES and is supported by world child protection leaders such as Chief Superintendent Chris Gould, Avon and Somerset Police (UK — creator of Child Safe) who is currently touring Australia warning parents about student exchanges as well as American lawyers and others. CSFES exists because our Department of State has yet to step up to the plate and enforce the laws that govern the operation of foreign exchange programs. You would think our government would have learned its lesson about responding quickly to those in need here on our soil but it appears that they are still “moving at the speed of FEMA“.
The following is an article that appeared in the September 27, 2007 edition of The Seoul Times in which Danielle Grijalva is extensively quoted. Thanks to Editor Joseph Joh for giving us permission to run their article here in its entirety.
America
US School Officials Enforcing School Policies
Advocates for Protecting Foreign Kids Applaudes Efforts
Special Contribution
From CSFES
 |
| Exchange students |
The Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students (CSFES) applauds the efforts of school administrators across the United States.
Principals, superintendents and State Offices of Public Instruction are adhering to the federal regulations implemented to reduce the incidents of exchange student abuse.
CSFES Director, Danielle Grijalva, stated “the implementation of policies that schools are adopting lessen problems for foreign teenagers. High schools that designate a deadline for placement agencies will allow sufficient time for compliance with Homeland Security requirements. This also allows for ample time to conduct criminal background checks of host families. These steps help to eliminate hasty, sloppy placements.”
CSFES encourages school administrators to check the local address of incoming exchange students and notify the U.S. Department of State if more than two students are placed in one residence.
CSFES commends those school districts who establish a conflict of interest policy that no school employee may also function as a representative for an exchange placement agency.
Ms. Grijalva included, “High schools oftentimes have funding and space issues. Student placement agencies force high schools to take students who were not properly enrolled. This leads to students being placed in homes haphazardly. Exchange students placed in the homes of registered sex offenders and convicted felons is certainly not an isolated incident as the exchange community would like for the public to believe.”
CSFES reminds the public that as per the federal regulations, “Under no circumstances may a sponsor facilitate the entry into the United States of an exchange student for whom a written school placement has not been secured.”
Local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are now informed when abuse or neglect of a student is detected.
Contact: Danielle Grijalva, Director
Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students
P.O. Box 6496 / Oceanside, CA 92056
www.csfes.org
Phone: 866-471-9203
Cell: 760-583-9593
Email: DGrijalva@csfes.org
on September 27th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Let’s hope your documented experiences help future exchange students and the families that help them out while the visit.
on October 1st, 2007 at 8:32 am
Just a quick update regarding CSFES, the non-profit advocacy group for the protection of foreign exchange students. This past week an unnamed plaintiff began an effort to get a restraining order against CSFES and silence her attempts to bring these mistreatment issues to light. Just another example of a big corporation trying to stamp out a whistle blower.
If you have a moment, please send an email of support to dgrijalva@csfes.org. Please consider a tax deductible monetary gift to her organization as well. She’s a single voice who will need a lot of financial resources to go up against these thugs.
on October 27th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
CSFES with its concrete documentation and impressive media contacts will do just fine. Beyond fine, actually.
While it’s awesome that you’ve suggested for your readers to send an email of encouragement to CSFES, you’ve got to know the company going up against this child advocacy group is in for one hulluva big fight.
What an opportunity to expose the truth. This has put CSFES in the absolute perfect position to reveal for public record those corrupt agencies who do not have the health, safety and welfare of exchange students as a priority.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 am
Yes the Child Safe is a amazing project and chris does an excellent job running things.