Students are officially matched with families for a period of a year after their arrival, but often the relationship continues their entire stay at Ball State and beyond. Some friendship families are still in touch with their students from twenty years ago and have exchanged visits in the two countries.

Students are assigned, if requested, a family unless they request not to be. The matching is done on the basis of requests by the volunteer families. The American families may be traditional families, or they may be retired couples, singles, or single-parent families. They come from all walks of life, economic levels, and religions. They all have a common interest to learn about other cultures and share the American way of life.

The friendship families are not sponsors and should never be expected to provide financial assistance. They do provide caring emotional support and/or practical assistance in settling in and making one's way in the Muncie community.

The number of contacts per semester and the kinds of activities done together vary greatly from one family to another. These matters are between the student and the friendship family.

Students do not need to feel obligated to accept every invitation. If students have class work to prepare, or if they do not wish to attend religious activities, for example, they are free to politely turn down an invitation. However, they should accept enough invitations (or initiate them) to develop a good relationship. If the Americans do not make contacts, students should notify the coordinator of the friendship family program.