This "cultural exchange" was first brought to my attention with several young women from China who showed up in Soldotna, walking down the streets in June, looking for a place to stay. Their parents had sprung for quite a bit of money for this "cultural opportunity" - translation: working at McDonalds.  (Carl Jr. would later continue this tradition) 
Jenny Nyman did a series about this program in the Redoubt Reporter a few years back that would be worth researching. While several of us in the community appreciated getting to know them and spend time with them, it appeared that this was not what they nor their parents had expected. 

In Hershey, PA this program actually displaced workers from the U.S. My assumption is that the employers don't need to pay social security etc. and so even at the same wage, it's a bargain. I don't fault those young people using this program, but personally I think J-1 is a scam.