When you decide to host an au pair, it’s important to use an agency that is designated by the U.S. Department of State, like Cultural Care Au Pair. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can host an au pair on your own—we are here to make a complicated program very simple and successful for you.
The first thing Cultural Care Au Pair does for host families is take care of the screening and training for au pairs. Staff in each recruitment country interviews each candidate in person, checks their references and makes sure all necessary documents are submitted and up-to-date. Once you choose an au pair, Cultural Care Au Pair will help her get a J-1 cultural exchange visa from the embassy in her home country, the only way she can legally travel to the U.S. to provide childcare.
Once an au pair arrives in the U.S., she spends the first five days at the Cultural Care Au Pair Training School. Au pairs will review child safety and development with the Training School teachers and acclimate to American life. During their time at the school, au pairs are also certified in adult and pediatric CPR/AED and First Aid from American Heart Association instructors.
Once your au pair arrives at your home, you will have the support of a local childcare consultant or LCC—like me!— who lives in your area. She or he will be in touch with you right away to make sure things are off to a good start and will meet with you sometime during the first two weeks to check in on you again and review program guidelines. Your LCC will continue to provide support for your family in case you need a question answered, a sounding board, or help solving a problem. Cultural Care Au Pair also has staff in two U.S. offices and lots of staff in the field who are available when you need support.
Cultural Care Au Pair’s job is to make sure our au pairs and host families have the best year possible by taking care of all the logistics, making sure both parties are following the guidelines and helping them feel supported.
