Questions of health and safety are treated with the utmost care by API and its staff, both in the United States and abroad. In the preparatory phases of the study abroad process, we encourage all students and their parents to carefully think through the implications of studying in another country, not only in regard to academic concerns, but also in terms of the emotional and physical demands that will be placed on the student participant. API begins providing students with essential information about health, safety and emergency preparedness upon their acceptance; students, in turn, are asked to be as detailed as possible when sharing their own health concerns with API on the medical form. Utilizing this form, API staff members both in the U.S. and abroad determine which special requests can be accommodated and prepare students to handle any local characteristics that could affect their stay in-country.

Additional information and resources required to be safe and stay healthy can be found throughout the API pre-departure materials, including our on-line toolbox. Most importantly, API students will participate in detailed on-site orientations where they will receive important health, safety and emergency preparedness information from our on-site staff. We hope that the following list of general safety questions and references will help to ease any concerns students or parents may have about the API programs.

STAYING HEALTHY ABROAD
STAYING SAFE ABROAD
BEING PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY ABROAD
 
STAYING HEALTHY ABROAD

WHO SHOULD I SPEAK TO ABOUT HELPING MY CHILD TO BE EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY PREPARED TO STUDY ABROAD?


Students and parents are encouraged to speak to their physician at home about the physical and emotional demands of studying and traveling abroad. Physicians can help determine any specific medical needs your child may have while traveling outside of the United States. If your child is currently taking any specific medications, your physician can also help to determine how much medication can be secured before your child travels abroad and whether or not (s)he will need to visit a local physician on-site to continue a specific health regimen.
 

WHERE CAN I BEST FIND COUNTRY-SPECIFIC HEALTH INFORMATION?


Country-specific health information can be found by visiting the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. The CDC website provides up-to-date information about recommended vaccinations, local food and water conditions, and other pertinent health information for the informed traveler.

Another good general resource for safety issues is the online "Study Abroad Safety Handbook", which includes basic health information, tips, and links to electronic resources. It can be found at http://www.studentsabroad.com/. There are also great recommendations about minimizing risk available on-line at www.globaled.us/peacecorps/.
 

HOW DOES API WORK WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIFIC MEDICAL/HEALTH CONCERNS?


Upon acceptance, all API students complete a detailed medical questionnaire. This questionnaire provides students with the opportunity to share any information necessary to ensure their successful participation in an abroad program. We ask all of our students to be as honest and straightforward as possible when completing this medical form. It will allow API staff both in the U.S. and abroad to determine if any special requests can be accommodated and help the student prepare for any local characteristics that could affect their stay in-country.
 

MY CHILD HAS SOME FOOD ALLERGIES. WHO SHOULD (S)HE TELL ABOUT THESE ALLERGIES AND HOW CAN (S)HE AVOID ALLERGY-TRIGGERS ABROAD?


Students should carefully consider their own health needs when selecting their preferred housing option. In most sites, multiple housing options are available. Students who have very specific food concerns may wish to select an accommodation that allows them to prepare their own meals (e.g., private apartments, dormitories, etc).

SelectWisely is a great source of information for travelers with food allergies. The website offers customized translation cards and allows travelers to select from among 25 allergy-causing foods and 9 languages.
 

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD GETS SICK ABROAD AND NEEDS TO VISIT A DOCTOR?


All API students will receive medical and life insurance coverage through AMA & Associates as part of the standard program fees. This insurance can help cover expenses for students who experience a medical emergency while abroad. Students who would like or need to visit a doctor during their stay are highly encouraged to talk to their on-site resident director about which clinic or doctors to visit. Local staff members are often able to recommend English-speaking physicians or can accompany the student to the doctor in locations where English-speaking doctors are not available.

Students are generally required to pay for all medical visits upfront. In order to properly submit a claim for reimbursement with the insurance company, students must retain all receipts that detail treatment received. For more elaborate procedures, it is recommended that your child also solicit a written statement from the attending physician detailing the rationale for a particular form of treatment. The insurance company must be notified within 90 days of the date of injury or the first treatment for sickness in order to process claims. Academic Programs International is not responsible for this process, but local staff are happy to help a student work through the paperwork if (s)he needs additional assistance. Claim forms are available by calling AMA & Associates at (800) 456-7480, or by downloading a claim form. Fill in the necessary information, attach all itemized bills and mail or fax to:

AMA & Associates
P.O. Box 659570
San Antonio, TX 78265-9570
FAX: 210-822-4113

Students should be aware that the insurance provided will not cover pre-existing conditions in most cases. Likewise, prescriptions and medications are generally NOT covered.

In addition to the health insurance, all students are provided with $100,000 of life insurance for accidental death. Each student will have named a beneficiary for his/her policy on the notarized document provided by Academic Programs International. This policy is also provided through AMA & Associates.
 
STAYING SAFE ABROAD

I’M WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILD LIVING AND STUDYING IN A CITY WITH WHICH (S)HE IS UNFAMILIAR. HOW HAVE OTHER STUDENTS ACCLIMATED TO LIFE IN THEIR HOST CITY?


It is natural to feel apprehensive about sending your child to live and study in new country or city. API, however, has sent thousands of students abroad through its programs over the past 10 years and provides detailed on-site orientation sessions for students upon arrival. These orientation sessions often include tours of the host city and host institution, as well as overviews of the cityscape. Students are encouraged to explore the city in small groups of other participants during the day in order to get more familiar with their neighborhoods and amenities in the immediate vicinity.
 

I’VE HEARD THAT PICK-POCKETING IS MORE COMMON ABROAD THAN IN THE UNITED STATES. IS THIS TRUE? HOW CAN MY CHILD AVOID BEING TARGETED?


Knowing that thieves tend to look for easy targets that will help them to accomplish their goal of securing lucrative items with minimal effort, API students are given advice on-site about what areas of the city to avoid at certain times and how to carry one’s belongings in such a way as to deter theft. While it would be impossible to stop all crimes involving API students from occurring, there are basic practices that can help to minimize risk. Specific techniques and tactics to help students avoid common pitfalls are discussed with local resident directors once students arrive on-site. In general, leaving valuable (and flashy) items at home and trying to blend in with the local population in dress and attitude is one way to avoid being targeted.
 

WHAT ONE PIECE OF SAFETY ADVICE DOES API CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR ALL STUDENTS ABROAD?


API sends students abroad to challenge themselves both academically and culturally. As a part of that challenge, API recognizes that students will want to explore new lifestyles and behaviors. API, however, encourages all students to carefully consider their own responsibility in keeping themselves safe. Making wise personal choices can be the number one factor in avoiding unnecessary risk. Whether that means choosing to pay for a taxi when returning home late at night or choosing not to overindulge in alcohol, API asks students to always keep their personal safety in mind when making decisions on-site. Local resident directors will provide students with strategies for minimizing risk, but ultimately, students make their own choices about how they will react in any given situation.
 

WHO CAN MY CHILD TALK TO ON-SITE IF (S)HE FINDS HERSELF/HIMSELF IN A SITUATION THAT MAKES HER/HIM UNCOMFORTABLE?


Local resident directors provide students with their emergency contact information upon arrival. Students should use these emergency numbers to seek assistance if they find themselves in a situation that they consider to be potentially dangerous. Likewise, local staff will provide students with contact information for local authorities, such as the police. Students are also highly encouraged to talk to local staff members in confidence at the API offices in their program site for information regarding any sort of recurring problem.
 

EVEN IF I CONSIDER MY CHILD TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND "STREET SMART" AT HOME, HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT (S)HE LEARNS WHAT BEHAVIORS ARE CONSIDERED SAFE ABROAD?


Students are sure to encounter situations abroad that they have not encountered at home. Additionally, linguistic and cultural barriers can make even familiar situations seem more difficult. API staff abroad will provide tips for making good decisions on-site, and will help identify behaviors that may have caused problems for students in the past. Though it can be hard for students to pay attention during long orientation sessions, encourage your child to take the orientation seriously. Our local directors want to help students to avoid making the mistakes that others have made and thereby prevent difficult situations before they occur! Likewise, being as informed as possible about local political and social situations can help students to avoid problems abroad. All students are encouraged to join the U.S. State Department warden system by registering with the U.S. State Department. Students can do so by visiting the State Department’s website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/IBRS/. Registration allows students to receive warnings from the State Department about upcoming events in their host country and be formally recognized as an American citizen abroad in the event that a country-wide evacuation is required. Students who have not registered themselves prior to traveling abroad will be registered by their resident director on-site.
 

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES AND SAFETY CONCERNS IN A PARTICULAR HOST DESTINATION?


PERSONAL SAFETY

The following links provide important information and support for how to prevent and deal with sexual assault and harassment while studying abroad:

Sexual Harassment And Prevention In College Students Studying Abroad By Nancy Newport, RN, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor, Consultant to Peace Corps
http://www.globaled.us/safeti/v1n2_newport.htm

Treatment of Sexual Assault in College Students Studying Abroad by Nancy Newport RN, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor, Consultant to Peace Corps
http://www.globaled.us/safeti/usc_art2.html

SAFETI Adaptation of Peace Corps Resources Rape Response Handbook
http://www.globaled.us/peacecorps/rapecontent.html

SUBSTANCE ABUSE


Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
PO Box 459, Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
Tel: 212-870-3400
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Provides a directory of international AA meetings; for members only.

DISABILITY AND ACCESS ABROAD


For European resources on accessibility, please visit: www.accessibleurope.com/info.html

Please review the following resources for more information about access for students with disabilities abroad (information courtesy of SECUSSA and the University of Minnesota's Access Abroad web site.

Disability Information for Students. Check out the International Disability News Ticker, with links to news stories on disability from around the world. www.abilityinfo.com

Inclusion International - Calls itself "a global federation of family-based organizations advocating for the human rights of persons with intellectual disabilities worldwide."
http://www.inclusion-international.org

Mobility International USA/National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange - MI's mission is "to empower people with disabilities around the world through international exchange, information, technical assistance and training; and to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in international exchange and development programs." Especially useful is their page of links: www.miusa.org/

P.O. Box 10767
Eugene, OR 97440
T: 541-343-1284; F: 541-343-6812
clearinghouse@miusa.org;
www.miusa.org
 
BEING PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY ABROAD

WHAT IS API’S POSITION ON STUDYING ABROAD, GIVEN SUCH A TUMULTUOUS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CLIMATE AROUND THE WORLD?


Along with our colleagues, API continues to believe in the value of intercultural experiences through study abroad for the purpose of exposing American and international students to the differences inherent in other cultures and lifestyles. By increasing cultural sensitivity and dispelling ethnocentric beliefs, peace and global understanding is more achievable. Additionally, the study abroad experience continues to provide a unique and unsurpassed opportunity for personal growth, individual revelation and maturity, as well as the possibility to master a new language! The opportunity for study abroad exists primarily during the college years, and as long as it is considered safe, API will continue to offer these opportunities to students.
 

WHAT DOES API CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST LINE OF DEFENSE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY?


API believes that the best line of defense in an emergency is a sound emergency plan and access to quality information. Along with other international education organizations operating in the field of study abroad, API monitors world events and stays abreast of changing political and social climates. We carefully review U.S. State Department advisories and updates and monitor public U.S. and overseas media reports; we receive periodic updates from the API overseas staff in each city; and we formulate and follow recommendations conceived by representatives of the study abroad profession.
 

HOW DOES API ACCOUNT FOR SAFETY WHEN SELECTING PROGRAM SITES?


API believes it is essential to carefully review the safety and security of a given country before establishing any new program sites. For this reason, the development of a new program generally involves three years of careful research, planning, and evaluation. Once a site is ready to be opened, local resident directors are hired to conduct on-site orientations for students, provide local safety tips and insight, and serve as the local contact for students in the event of any emergency.
 

WHAT PROCEDURES DOES API HAVE IN PLACE ON-SITE TO ENSURE PARTICIPANTS’ SAFETY?


All API overseas programs have emergency evacuation and response plans in place, and students are kept apprised of any changes in these plans. Even within regions of the world more traditionally considered to be “safe”, tensions resulting from local bombings and protests, new migratory patterns, and increased political pressures around the world have resulted in heightened security in train stations, airports and other public domains. For these reasons, API overseas staff members receive regular updates via email from the U.S. consulates closest to their city, and will be notified directly in the event that immediate action needs to be taken for American students. Students are reminded, and notices are posted in each office, of API safety and security regulations. Likewise, students are given suggestions about how to minimize their visibility as Americans on-site.

All students are asked to inform their directors and host families when they schedule any personal trips during weekends or other vacation periods. API excursions and planned activities will be rescheduled or relocated in the event that a particular location is unsafe. Charter transportation is arranged in as many travel situations as is possible for excursions and other group transits.
 

IF A PROGRAM HAS TO BE EVACUATED, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN REGARD TO PROGRAM PAYMENT AND ACADEMIC CREDIT?


In the unlikely event that the U.S. State Department issues a travel warning for one of our program countries or regions, and informs Americans to evacuate these areas, or if API-Texas is counseled by one of our overseas staff of a specific danger in a particular city, we will take the necessary action to terminate the program(s) and to assist students as they return to the U.S. If a program is terminated after it has begun, all recoverable fees will be refunded. If API cancels a program prior to the date the program is set to begin, the standard refund policy will be waived and students will receive a refund of all recoverable costs. There are costs that are incurred on behalf of a student prior to departure, and are considered non-recoverable. In the event that a program is shortened due to an emergency or security concerns, academic credit will be assessed with the aid of the host institution abroad and in careful collaboration with local U.S. university partners.
 

HAS API EVER HANDLED AN EMERGENCY ON-SITE?


API programs were in operation in Madrid during the train bombings in March of 2004. Resident directors followed the emergency procedures already in place on-site to locate all participants and notify the API headquarters in Texas of the safety of all of our students. API staff members in the U.S. were employed to provide electronic updates to our website, to contact the parents and universities of each individual participant, and to notify other partners of the safety of our students.