How do I apply to host a foreign exchange student?

I live in the USA. I'm 17, and as much as I'd like to be a foreign exchange student, I know I wouldn't be able to because of scheduling, school sports, etc. But I'm interested in my family hosting a student from abroad. What is the best way to go about doing this?

i would suggest:

http://afs.org/afs_or/focus_on/hosting

i have no real sources or personal experiences to back up AFS, but i'm currently applying to be an exchange student myself, and AFS seems promising to me :)

I keep losing what I post here .. I meant to recommend to you that a good book, that could possibly help you with adding some insight into "men and things" ... have you heard of the series of several books, that begin with "Clan of the Cave Bear". I recommend it highly.

I'm afraid Yahoo keeps acting up on me, so this is maybe unrelated to this question, as I tried to relocate the question about teh books you sought some rec's for ... I recommended Michener, regards history, and the life of Judy Garland is also interesting, having read "Over the Rainbow" ... that's a biography of her. But highly recommended which I think would be quite enjoyable for an independent and high spirited girl as you seem, should be great reading. Don't compare with movie -- the movie was "nada".