March 24, 2025

Name of Sponsor:

EF Educational Foundation for Foreign Study, a Massachusetts non-profit corporation

June 27, 2024

FORT BLISS SOLDIER, WIFE ARRESTED ON CHARGES THEY MADE CHILD USE BUCKET AS TOILET, STARVED HER AND HELD KNIFE TO HER THROAT By ROSE L. THAYER STARS AND STRIPES

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2024-06-27/fort-bliss-army-soldier-child-abuse-14317067.html
Source - Stars and Stripes 

It has been reported that the following student placement agencies placed teenage foreign exchange students into the Stepaniaks' residence over a span of several years: 

AIFS Foundation - Academic Year in America (AYA)

1 High Ridge Park

Stamford, CT  06905

Tel: 203.399.5000

AYA Area Coordinator:  Christine Peschka-Santillan

Greenheart International DBA Greenheart Exchange

742 N La Salle Drive, Suite 300
Chicago, IL  60654
  312.944.2544
  866.224.0061 Toll Free

Important:  Note from CSFES

To: Former Exchange Students Hosted by Cecilia and Coreydon Stepaniak:

With deep regret and extreme sadness, CSFES understands Cecilia and Coreydon Stepaniak were allowed to host many foreign exchange students over the years.  ​

For those of you that have been brave enough to come forward, you are to be commended for your bravery.  Thank you.  You are believed.  For those of you that have shared that you were told in America that a 'black mark' would be placed on your visa, or that you would never get a visa for the United States again if you come forward to report your concerns, please know that this is not true!  Your visa will not be affected for coming forward to report what you witnessed in the Stepaniak residence. 

Yes, a translator will be provided for those of you that want to come forward but are afraid to do so.  Yes, your wish for this to remain confidential will be respected.    

Thank you from my heart for those of you that have already come forward.  There is strength in numbers and we believe you can do something very important for reporting what you saw while living with Cecilia and Coreydon Stepaniak no matter how many years ago it was.  You will be believed and you are to feel safe coming forward.  Yes, you may remain anonymous and take as much time as you need as you continue to speak with the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students.  We want to say we believe you and you are to please feel safe stepping forward to say what you want to say.  Saying something is better than silence. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Danielle Grijalva, Director 
Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students​

---

April 19, 2024

Clay Springs man found guilty of inappropriate behavior towards exchange student

by Staff White Mountain Independent

Student Exchange Agency:  AYUSA

​​March 25, 2024

Ex-teacher in Florida found guilty of drugging, sexually abusing foreign exchange student

by:  Anthony Talcott, Digital Journalist

Student Exchange Agency: AFICE

Note to former students:

If you were hosted or supervised by Dmitri Kostyunin with AFICE or any other placement agency, you are encouraged to contact Detective Rice with the Mount Dora Police Department:  Ricea@mountdora.com

March 6, 2024

​Michael Morrissey convicted on two counts of sexual assault

by Tom Lindfors, River Falls Journal

Student Exchange Agency:  CETUSA

​In Tom Lindfors' article, you will read, "Danielle Grijalva, Director of the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students warned, parents of foreign exchange students need to do their due diligence.

Sexual abuse of foreign exchange students is rampant in the US. Parents overseas need to do their homework prior to sending their child thousands of miles across the globe to live with complete strangers,” Grijalva said. “There are more exchange students than there are host families available and these placement agencies will place these children with anyone anywhere even if the host has a criminal background.” 

​May 2, 2023

Town of Richmond man arrested for sexual assault of minor

by Tom Lindfors, Star-Observer

Student Exchange Agency:  CETUSA

April 2, 2023

​​​​A Spanish Minor, Caught in the Jaws of a "Rabbi" Arrested in the US for Sexual Abuse

​EL MUNDO Spain - By Ana Maria Ortiz

Student Exchange Agency:  Educational Resource Development Trust, d/b/a SHARE ("ERDT") (based in USA) and Estudiar en USA (based in Spain).

English translation to follow.  Contact CSFES if you would like a copy of the English translation sooner.  Simply go to our Contact Us page and let us know you would like the English translation.  The English translation was sent to the US Department of State and CSIET on April 12, 2023

​February 15, 2023  

​Adoptive father of 9 charged after teen calls podcast alleging yearslong sex abuse

abc 13 Eyewitness News  Mycah Hatfield and Jessica Willey

Student Exchange Agency: Educational Resource Development Trust, d/b/a SHARE ("ERDT") (based in USA) and Estudiar en USA (based in Spain).

December 21, 2022

In Adams County, Colorado:
Strasburg teacher arrested after allegedly sexually abusing exchange student

Denver 7, Stephanie Butzer
Student Exchange Agency:  To follow

​​December 20, 2022

Teacher accused of sexually assaulting exchange student

9 News by Janet Oravetz

Student Exchange Agency: To follow

December 20, 2022

​In Clayton, Missouri:

High school teacher accused of sexual exploitation of exchange student

by Kevin S. Held, Fox2news

Student Exchange Agency:  To follow

​November 5, 2022

Italian parents sue New York boarding school where son died by suicide

The lawsuit alleges 17-year-old Claudio Mandia died in "solitary confinement" while waiting for his parents to arrive from Italy following his expulsion for cheating.

Student Exchange Agency: ​EF Academy

​​​August 31, 2022

Case of man accused of spying on foreign exchange student now headed to grand jury

​August 1, 2022

Former VA Beach Teacher Dealt Max Sentence For Sexually Assaulting Student

By:  AJ Goldbloom, Alexandria Daily Voice

In the above news link you will read, "A former Ocean Lakes high school teacher was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday, August 1, after he sexually assaulted an exchange student, officials said."  Notice there is no mention of the name of the student placement agency responsible for this placement.  

April 28, 2022

Kileen man allegedly molested 15-year-old foreign exchange student multiple times

By Madeline Oden KDH News

August 20, 2021

Host who recorded exchange student in bathroom gets 15 years

​Concord Monitor

​August 19, 2021

​Bedford Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

​The United States Attorney's Office, District of New Hampshire, United States Department of Justice

​August 16, 2021

Former judge pleads guilty to sexual assault of Asheville teenage boy, sentenced to prison

By Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven, Asheville Citizen Times

​You will read in this story that this judge has, "hosted foreign exchange students for nearly 30 years,".  

If you were hosted by Daniel Ray Green you are encouraged to contact the Asheville Police Department 828-252-1110.  There is strength in numbers so we thank you for your bravery.  You may also contact the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Student directly at DGrijalva@csfes.org.  

​August 13, 2021

Council Bluffs man, a foreign exchange student program coordinator, sentenced to decades in prison

By:  Isabella Rosario, Des Moines Register
​

Student Exchange Agency: EF High School Exchange Year

​April 14, 2021

Foreign exchange student suffered sexual abuse from host parent, suit alleges

By Marian Johns, Southeast Texas Record

Student Exchange Agency:  Educational Resource Development Trust, d/b/a SHARE ("ERDT") (based in USA) and Estudiar en USA (based in Spain).

March 4, 2021

Parole Board orders detention review for former Vernon man convicted in death of Natsumi Kogawa

By Jon Manchester

February 26, 2021

A 'playground for predators': Iowa sex abuse case shows holes in protections for exchange students

Philip Joens Des, Moines Register

Student Exchange Agency:  EF Education First

February 22, 2021

Canton man sentenced for attempted overseas transport of child pornography

February 13, 2021

Bluffs man convicted of coercion, enticement of foreign exchange students

Student Exchange Agency: EF Intercultural Foundation Inc.

February 11, 2021

Youngsville Police: LPSS employee accused of having sex with exchange student
Student Exchange Agency:  Pan Atlantic Foundation

July 31, 2020

HuffPost:  Au Pairs Come to the U.S. Seeking Cultural Exchange, but the State Department Often Fails to Protect Them
by Government Accountability Project

July 24, 2020

New sex abuse investigation for Bedford man accused of secretly filming exchange student

by Damien Fisher

​​​​​​​​​March 4, 2020

Council Bluffs foreign exchange coordinator charged with using minors to make child porn

by Philip Joens, Des Moines Register

Student Exchange Agency:  EF Intercultural Foundation Inc.

March 20, 2020 CSFES Note:  CSFES believes there may have been more victims.  If you were hosted or supervised by Thomas Boatright, we would like to hear from you.  Please contact CSFES directly at DGrijalva@csfes.org.  Your voice matters. 

March 3, 2020

Omaha foreign exchange coordinator charged with sexual exploitation of 3 children

By Brian Mastre

Student Exchange Agency:  EF High School Exchange Year

​​
January 24, 2020

Man sentenced to jail for secretly recording foreign exchange students at home

​December 18, 2019

Marine wife arrested on suspicion of having sex with teen exchange student

By Kristina Davis, The San Diego Union Tribune

​Student Exchange Agency:  To follow

October 3, 2019

Host Parent For Foreign Exchange Students Sentenced For Child Sexual Exploitation Violations

An American Nightmare:

Norwegian Exchange Students to the United States Risks Being Placed in Host Families Who Can Barely Take Care of Themselves
By Elisabeth Randsborg, Aftenposten

Student Exchange Agencies:  EF High School Year and Council for Educational Travel, USA

May 19, 2018

Evidence of alleged sexual conduct found in texts

By Jeremy Jones, HutchinsonLeader.com

May 15, 2018

Santa Clara City Councilman resigns amid sexual harassment allegations

By Chris Nguyen, abc7news

May 3, 2018

Parents of Glenbard South foreign exchange student file wrongful death lawsuit

By Justin Kmitch, Daily Herald

Student Exchange Agency:  Council for Educational Travel United States of America (CETUSA)

​March 15, 2018

'Dorm mother' accused of sexually assaulting exchange student pleads not guilty

By HNN Staff (HawaiiNewsNow)

Student Exchange Agency:  Hapana International, Inc.

March 8, 2018

Police:  Woman who recruited exchange students to Hawaii raped one while he was bedridden

By Lynn Kawano, Anchor/Reporter HNN Staff (HawaiiNewsNow)

Student Exchange Agency:  Hapana International, Inc.

February 22, 2018

Judicial candidate Eldridge was accused of having sex with student, 16

By Tony Plohetski and Ryan Autullo - American - Statesman Staff, KVUE News

February 20, 2018

Second girl accuses former Wausau East employee of sex assault

By Haley BeMiller, USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin

February 19, 2018

Married Uber driver who roped 16-year-old Japanese exchange student in his car minutes after she arrived in England is jailed for a year

By TIM STICKINGS FOR MAILONLINE

February 2, 2018

Retired doctor gets five days in jail for sex with exchange student

by Andrew Binion, Kitsap Sun  Part of the USA Today Network

Student Exchange Agency:  Rotary International

January 30, 2018

Sexual assault of exchange student results in 183-year prison sentence

by Cathy Locke, The Sacramento Bee

January 27, 2018

Foreign Exchange Student from China Labeled As Troublemaker

Will Exchange Student from China Return Home in Shame?

​Written by Danielle Grijalva, Director of Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students

Kansas City, MO - InfoZine

October 31, 2017

Bremerton doctor charged with sex with minor

By Richard Walker and Nick Twietmeyer, Kitsap Daily News
Student Exchange Agency:  Rotary International

August 29. 2017

Ex-Miami exchange student charged in sexual-abuse case gets house arrest

by David Ovalle - Miami Herald

Student Exchange Agency:  CCI Greenheart (formerly known as Center for Cultural Interchange) currently known as Greenheart Exchange

August 28, 2017

Lawmaker calls for tougher screening of foreign exchange hosts

by Kyra Gurney - Miami Herald

Student Exchange Agency:  CCI Greenheart (formerly known as Center for Cultural Interchange) currently known as Greenheart Exchange

August 26, 2017

Exchange of students: when the foreign year becomes a nightmare Controversy

by BR Television Germany

Student Exchange Agency:  EF Education First

August 25, 2017

Video:  School District Stands By No Foreign Exchange Students Policy, For Now

by Salena Schaffer WCBI-TV

Note from CSFES:  Until the exchange industry implements criminal background checks, school districts should enact policies as Choctaw County Superintendent has implemented.

August 17, 2017

Kristian looked at light-handed women when he was on exchange:  It was the beginning of three years of nightmares

by Niels Pedersen - BT Denmark

Student Exchange Agencies:  ASPECT Foundation in the U.S. and Language Education in Denmark.

​August 1, 2017

Complaint to be filed on handling of allegations that host had sex with foreign exchange student By Jeff Levkulich, WFTV 9 ABC​

July 29, 2017

Verloren in Amerika

By Christian Gechwendtner, Suddeutsche Zeitung, SZ.de

Student Exchange Agency:  International Student Exchange (ISE)

​July 28, 2017

Real America is the purest nightmare - Student exchange in the USA 

By Christian Gechwendtner, Suddeutsche Zeitung, SZ.de
Student Exchange Agency:  International Student Exchange (ISE)

​July 25, 2017

Alamonte Springs man accused of having sex with foreign exchange student 

by Jeff Levkulich, WFTV 9 ABC

July 17, 2017

El viaje de estudios de una española a Miami que acabó en un siniestro caso de abusos sexuales a su hermana

by Manuel Trillo, ABC Sociedad

Student Exchange Agency:  CCI Greenheart currently known as Greenheart Exchange