News, Events, Press

RANDOLPH TWP. -- Morris County families and Au Pairs from 20 countries will gather for “International Au Pair and Family Day” in Hedden Park on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Morris County families and au pairs from Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Sweden, Denmark and other countries around the world will gather for the first International Au Pair and Family Day, a local AuPairCare-sponsored event that features fun and interactive activities and games, food, and socializing to promote international childcare and the benefits of cultural exchange.

 AuPairCare, a leading au pair agency providing live-in childcare services to American families, is proud to announce its first International Au Pair and Family Day.

The Morris County International Au Pair and Family Day event is free and open to all previous and current host families and au pairs, as well as local families who may want to learn more about the program.

The events will feature fun and interactive activities for all ages.
 

“Our International Au Pair and Family Day events are a chance for AuPairCare communities to celebrate the unique bond that develops between a family and their au pair,” said Heidi Woehl, vice president of AuPairCare.  “Bringing an au pair into your home is more than just an affordable, reliable childcare option – it’s adding an international branch to your family tree.”
 

International Au Pair and Family Day will be held in nearly 100 communities across the country and will bring together local American families and au pairs from all over the world to share their culture and promote the benefits of international childcare.
 

AuPairCare is a leading au pair agency providing live-in childcare services to American families since 1989.
 

Designated by the U.S. Department of State, AuPairCare offers superior childcare to fit families’ unique needs. AuPairCare has made more than 40,000 successful au pair placements across the U.S.  AuPairCare is a division of Intrax Cultural Exchange, a family of organizations devoted to cultivating international understanding through cultural exchange and educational programs, with operations in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Read more at:www.recordernewspapers.com/articles/2010/08/24/randolph_reporter/latest_news/doc4c73d603a8430078557628.txt

All parents want the best for their children. That’s why, when it comes to finding reliable childcare, the search can be daunting.  Available solutions to the childcare dilemma run the gamut from daycare to babysitters and nannies to grandma.  One option that more and more families are choosing is an au pair.  An au pair provides flexible, affordable live-in childcare.

Who is an au pair?  An au pair is a young adult between the ages of 18-26 who lives with your family and provides personalized, quality care for your children.  Au pairs come from all over the world, are conversant in English, love children and are eager to learn about life in the United States.

American families invite au pairs into their homes as extended members of the family and provide au pairs with an opportunity to learn about our culture and improve their English.  In exchange, au pairs provide their host families with up to 45 hours a week of individualized childcare.

Au pairs provide busy families with an extra pair of helping hands. Some of the many duties that an au pair performs are getting children ready for school, driving children to activities, engaging children in stimulating play, preparing meals for children, doing the children’s laundry and bathing children.

The au pair’s hours are flexible, and an au pair can work up to 10 hours per day.  Host families just need to make sure that their au pair receives 1½ days off per week and one weekend off per month.  Parents with au pairs can go out for a dinner at a restaurant with out having to plan their “date” weeks in advance. Au pairs even go on vacation with their families, providing the extra help that ensures for a relaxing vacation.

In addition to the convenience of a flexible schedule, affordability is another great advantage of hosting an au pair.  Au pairs provide 45 hours of quality childcare for approximately $340 per week, including fees paid to the agency and a weekly stipend paid to the au pair. This comes out to around $18,000 per year compared to $30,000 - $50,000 to hire a nanny for a year.  Unlike the cost of daycare, which increases with each additional child, the costs associated with hosting an au pair remain the same regardless of the number of children in the family.

There are approximately 12 sponsoring agencies in the United States that are authorized by the Department of State to bring au pairs to the US.  These agencies document the au pair’s childcare experience, perform background checks, interview and screen au pairs for suitability and provide local field staff for on-going support to au pairs and host families throughout the year.  Families can rest assured that their au pair has completed a rigorous application process, includingan extensive background check.

Prospective host families can also check the Better Business Bureau in their area for the latest Au Pair Agency Ratings. There is a distinct difference in the level of service some agencies provide. Go with a trusted agency with a top rating. Au pairs provide flexible, cost effective and personalized childcare.

Another wonderful benefit of hosting an au pair is the gift of cultural exchange! By welcoming an au pair into their home, families give their children an opportunity to learn a new language and experience a new culture!! 

Wendie Karel is an Area Director for AuPairCare, a local au pair agency. When Wendie is not helping host families and au pairs, she is busyhanging out with her five- and three-year-old daughters. She can be reached directly at WendieKarelAPC@yahoo.com or (650) 462-1789.

Read more at:  www.bigtent.com/usr/files/35974325_2_00_PAMP_August_2010.pdf

AuPairCare, a local au pair placement agency, is teaming with Kaleidoscope Children’s Boutique to help Kids in Crisis, a Cos Cob-based charity.

“It seemed like the natural choice for us to adopt Kids in Crisis as a charity,” said Jackie Perless, AuPairCare’s SW Fairfield County area director, in a prepared release. The au pairs first became involved with the Cos Cob charity during their recent Share A Bear event in January, donating special international bears made by the au pairs. Since then, two of the group’s au pairs, Inga Tripmaker and Andrea Kirchoff, have continued volunteering on their own time at Kids in Crisis.

Ms. Perless has made it a point for her group to do several community activities per year.

On July 11, the SW Fairfield County Cluster made dinner for the teenagers staying at the facility. Kaleidoscope donated hand-decorated cupcakes for the dessert. On Nov. 14, AuPairCare will be putting on a party for the younger residents staying at Kids in Crisis.

“We are excited about the opportunity of our au pairs, who make such a difference in the lives of the children that they care for, to extend the spirit of international friendship to other children in the area,” said Heidi Woehl, VP of AuPairCare.

For more information, visit aupaircare.com.

Read more at: www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/greenwich-post/news/local/65117-aupair-care-kaleidoscope-adopt-kids-in-crisis.html

They come into homes as strangers, and in the best scenarios become cherished employees or even part of the family. In the worst scenario, they work too many hours, are underpaid, and even abused. More than 200,000 domestic workers are employed in New York according to Domestic Workers United, and many of them work here in Rye as nannies caring for the children of busy professionals.

A bill recently passed in the state Senate could change the way they work. The bill would provide a Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights providing domestic workers with paid sick days, vacation days and holidays, overtime pay, and 14 days' notice or severance pay before termination.

In Rye, the bill is being well received. Sarah McNamara, Director of Matching and New Products at Au Pair Care, a national agency that matches au pairs with families, says the agency believes providing caregivers workplace protection makes sense and is an investment that will benefit parents and their children.

Au Pair Care currently provides au pairs and host families with strict guidelines regarding number of hours the au pair is allowed to work, sick days, insurance, and vacation days.

As southern Westchester's local area director Barbara Brown gives support to families and au pairs to ensure the guidelines are followed and to help with any necessary problem solving.

"I make a point to spend time getting to know my au pairs and host families," Brown said. "As a former au pair from Holland, I know firsthand how important the role of someone in the area director position can be in making sure everyone is treated fairly and has a safe and fulfilling au pair experience."

McNamara said the agency rarely sees issues with work environments, in part due to the in-home interview and screening of host families before they welcome an au pair.

Kim O'Connor, a Rye Resident, who currently has an au pair from Au Pair Care, also supports the bill.

"I'm delighted domestic workers finally may have equal protection, but I am concerned about the potential backlash and curious about the effects it will have on undocumented workers," O'Connor said.

The new bill would apply to undocumented workers, although it is not known how enforceable that aspect of the bill would be and if workers here illegally would report employers who violate the law.

O'Connor has had a nanny in her household for ten years, although she has only had one with Au Pair Care since December. She said she and her husband have always tried to pay nannies fairly based on their knowledge of fair labor laws.

Area nannies echoed the sentiments of O'Connor and Au Pair Care. About six nannies outside of the Rye Free Reading Room discussed the bill. None of the six were affiliated with Au Pair Care and all declined to give their names for fear of angering their employers. The nannies had on average been working for ten years and said they thought they bill was great.

"I think it's one of the best bills ever passed," one of the nannies said.

All six said they often work more than 50 hours a week without additional compensation. A couple mentioned they worried about how the bill would effect those workers paid off the books, and undocumented immigrants.

"I believe all human beings should be treated with respect and compassion, and have been puzzled that domestic workers don't have equality under the labor law," O' Connor said.

Before the bill becomes law, the State Assembly, which passed a similar bill last year, and the Senate would have to reach an agreement and the governor would then have to sign it
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nanny Costs Rising – Au Pair Care International Au Pairs Are an Affordable Solution

Summary: Au Pair Care international au pairs offer parents an affordable childcare option amidst newly passed state senate legislation in New York that could raise the cost of in-home childcare.

San Francisco, CA – June 10, 2010 – The New York State Senate passed a bill last week requiring more paid protection for its domestic workers, including nannies.  The new bill could result in increases in the cost of child-care for families, unless a caregiver’s benefits already meet the new standards.  Au Pair Care, (www.aupaircare.com)  a leading au pair agency providing live-in childcare services to American families, already provides these benefits for its au pairs – making it an affordable childcare alternative for New York families.

New York is the first state in the U.S. to pass legislation that provides domestic workers with basic labor protections. Known as the domestic workers’ bill of rights, the legislation guarantees protections such as paid holidays, sick days, vacation days and the right to overtime pay and collective bargaining. The bill would also require 14 days’ notice, or termination pay, before firing a domestic worker.

“At Au Pair Care we are focused on providing host families with quality, live-in childcare – while at the same time ensuring a good experience for our au pairs,” said Sarah McNamara, director of matching and new product at Au Pair Care. “The person caring for your child has such an important job.  At Au Pair Care we ensure that au pairs receive vacation, a weekly stipend, and medical benefits according to federal regulations governing U.S. Department of State au pair programs.  This simplifies the burden on families and also provides peace of mind.”

Au Pair Care’s program offers affordable childcare at an equivalent of $7.50 per hour, plus room and board, which provides families full-time childcare with all program fees remaining the same, regardless of the number of children. Au pairs work flexible hours, up to 45 hours per week.  In addition, they perform duties related to childcare such as meal preparation, laundry and cleaning up the play area.

“Knowing I have set time off, insurance, sick days, and local support makes being an au pair easier, as I can focus all my attention on caring for my host child,” said Anita Kuzmanoska from Macedonia, a New York-placed au pair with Au Pair Care.

About Au Pair Care
Au Pair Care (www.aupaircare.com)  is a leading au pair agency providing live-in childcare services to American families since 1989. Designated by the U.S. Department of State, Au Pair Care offers superior childcare to fit families’ unique needs. Au Pair Care has made more than 40,000 successful au pair placements across the U.S.  Au Pair Care is a division of Intrax Cultural Exchange, a family of organizations devoted to cultivating international understanding through cultural exchange and educational programs, with operations in more than 80 countries worldwide. 

# # #

Press Contact:
Melanie Vuynovich
Phone: 415.434.5512
Email: mvunovich@intraxinc.com
 

Is a live-in Au Pair the right childcare option for you?
By: Beth Stewart

A live-in Au Pair can be an excellent childcare solution for many families. What is more important to a working parent than obtaining excellent child care in a loving and learning environment? For many working parents, your top priority is finding the best childcare possible for your child. Most parents would admit that their greatest stress is obtaining reliable and high quality childcare. It can be frustrating -- especially when babysitters cancel and childcare centers send home sniffling kids. What about having the day care take place in your own home with an Au Pair?

What is an Au Pair?

An Au Pair is a young adult from another country who lives with your family, typically for 1 year, and provides in-home childcare and light housework and in exchange receives room and board, as well as spending money.

Should you hire an Au Pair?

Pros of a live-in Au Pair
• having a registered and trained young person available when you need them, who also exposes your children to another culture and can become part of the family
• the emotional security of knowing your child is in a stable child care environment
• having an additional member of the family who can discuss concerns, problems, successes and supports your child’s achievements
• an extra ‘hand’ to help do those little things like letting the dog in and out that really make a difference in the time you are able to spend with your child
• an inexpensive, flexible live-in childcare option: An international au pair may cost less than you imagine – no matter how many children you have -- and is more affordable than a live-in nanny or a live-out nanny
• au pairs love children and enjoy spending time with them.
• opportunities for your au pair to network with other au pairs

Sarah McNamara is a full time working mom with one 18 month old and one more on the way. A member of Au Pair Care since 2006, she is currently the Director of Matching and New Products. She has had the opportunity to live abroad and has hosted two au pairs herself. She says, “Hosting an au pair has made life easier for me and my family. The convenience of having an au pair in my home means I have more time and less stress.” She adds, “I’m not rushing to and from a daycare center to pick up my daughter when I go to work or worrying that she isn’t getting enough one-on-one attention. And because the au pair works flexible hours, my husband and I have a regular date night each week – without ever worrying about finding a babysitter!”

Read More:
http://pregnancyandbaby.sheknows.com/pregnancy/baby/Is-a-live-in-Au-Pair-the-right-childcare-option-for-you-6557.htm

Every year for the past 5 years, Yoga Instructor and AuPairCare Area Director, Claire Turner has taught a beach yoga class to her au pairs to raise money for an Earth Day Charity.  This year, Claire is opening up the class to invite moms and expectant moms to join the class, both to receive the healing benefits of an outdoor yoga class, (with an experienced pre-natal Yoga Teacher), and, at the same time, giving moms the opportunity to learn about hosting an au pair to help with their child care needs by meeting and talking to current au pairs!

The class will take place on Saturday, May 22nd, meeting by Venice Pier at 9:45 AM.  The suggested donation for the charity class is $10.  Please bring an old sheet to practice yoga on, water, sunscreen and sunglasses!  Please contact AuPairCare LA Area Director/Yoga Instructor, Claire Turner to RSVP:  626-794-5989, apcinla@aol.com.

What is an Au Pair?  An au pair is a young adult from another country who lives with an American family and provides flexible, affordable in-home childcare for up to 45 hours per week.  More than an experienced childcare solution, au pairs also assist with light housekeeping and other duties associated with child care such as:  doing children's laundry, driving children to school and extracurricular activities, preparing children's meals, and supervising homework.  Au pairs also offer an international cultural exchange for families to experience alternate cultures.

About AuPairCare.  AuPairCare is a Department of State sponsored agency that assists families nationwide in finding the best, most affordable, in-home child care.  AuPairCare is one of several Au Pair Programs and has placed over 40,000 au pairs from over 40 countries with families across the United States since 1989.

Five years ago, Jennifer Dotson had two children, both under 2.
With these "2 under 2," a daily commute to Washington for work, and no family living in the area, she said she couldn't afford child care. That's when she discovered the au pair program, and she and her husband have been hosting au pairs in their home ever since.

The au pair (French for "on par") program was created in 1986 to provide an opportunity for cultural and educational exchange with a child care component. Through this program, thousands of people ages 18 to 26 come to the U.S. for yearlong, full-time child care positions with host families.

Sponsor organizations administer the program using regulations set by the U.S. Department of State. Dotson is now an area director for one of these organizations: AuPairCare.

Dotson oversees the AuPairCare area that includes all of Frederick and Howard counties, northern Montgomery County and eastern Washington County. She coordinates au pair care for 26 families, some of whom gathered at Dotson's home on a recent evening to talk about their experiences.

Laura and Darnell Gray of Frederick have hosted au pairs in their home for eight years. The couple has a 13-year-old daughter and 8-year-old twins.

Laura works in real estate, and Darnell commutes to Washington for work. Both have unusual work hours and they found traditional day care too expensive. Shortly after their twins were born, they decided to try the au pair program, and they were matched with an au pair who specialized in caring for twins.

The Grays have since hosted au pairs from Turkey, South Africa, Romania, Brazil, Japan, Germany and South Korea, Laura Gray said.

The Grays' current au pair, Vicky Kim, is from South Korea. The 26-year-old said she applied to be an au pair for the opportunity to improve her English, which could lead to a better job back home. Kim said she taught computer skills to elementary school students in her home country, and is preparing to be a teacher when she returns, so the child care experience is beneficial for her as well as the Gray family.

The au pair relationship

According to State Department regulations, au pairs can work up to 45 hours a week, and must be allowed one and a half days off every week and two weeks paid vacation during their yearlong stay. Au pairs must know basic conversational English, and host families must provide au pairs with a private bedroom.

Families pay $340 per week to AuPairCare, regardless of the number of children. Of this, the agency pays the au pairs $195 per week. In addition to full-time child care, au pairs can be responsible for child-related household tasks, such as cleaning the children's rooms, doing their laundry, preparing meals and driving them to and from school, sports practices and other events.

Au pairs are also required to complete at least six credits or the equivalent at any accredited college or university, and host families must provide up to $500 per year toward this education. Most Frederick-area au pairs choose to take English language courses at Frederick Community College, Dotson said.

Sponsor organizations such as AuPairCare are responsible for conducting background checks on both the host families and au pairs, and checking references. Au pairs working with children younger than 2 must provide documented proof of 200 hours of child care experience. The au pair program is highly competitive, Dotson said, as only 30 percent of those who apply are accepted.

Sponsoring organizations must annually submit their advertisement and recruitment materials, as well as the results of an annual survey of host families and au pairs, to the Department of State. They must also submit all complaints received and their resolutions, and report any situations that ultimately result in an au pair being placed with more than one host family. Sponsor organizations are audited each year.

Dotson is also required to contact au pairs and host families at least once a month to make sure the experience remains positive for both parties. She said most issues are handled on a local level with an effort to keep au pair-host family matches intact.

It is important that families outline house rules from the beginning to avoid conflicts, Dotson said. Problems can arise over such things as the au pair's use of cell phone minutes or the host family's vehicle if guidelines are not defined at the beginning of the relationship, she said.

Cultural exchange

Kim said she encountered her biggest cultural challenges in the kitchen, in terms of diet and utensils. She had never used a knife and fork before coming to the U.S., she said.

"Dinner time is very exciting for me," she said with a laugh.

This cultural exchange is one of the goals of the au pair program. Gray said her children have learned some German and Korean from their au pairs, and Dotson said the cross-cultural exposure helps ensure her children grow up with open minds.

"They get that there's another world out there," she said.

The Dotsons' au pair is 23-year-old Elaine Avelino of Brazil. Avelino said the opportunity to learn English and experience a new country and culture drew her to the au pair program.

Like Kim, she said the hardest adjustment to make was dietary. In Brazil, she ate rice and beans daily, along with salads, fruits and vegetables. The typical American diet does not include as much of these items, she said.

Of course, many au pairs experience homesickness, but the women gathered at the Dotsons' home recently said their hosts have made them feel like part of their families.

The same is true for the kids. Though she's now at home full time, Dotson still hosts au pairs to assist her with taking care of her children. Dotson said her children include their au pairs in family drawings, and they keep in touch with past au pairs.

"We're not taking them out of their environment, so the kids adjust fabulously," she said.  

To see pictures click here:  http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/storyTools/print_story.htm?storyID=104568&cameFromSection=art_life#

The cost of childcare can be one of the most expensive decisions in the family budget.  Not only is it a big financial decision but it is also an emotional and lifestyle decision for the whole family. If you have looked at the childcare options, the cost of using a day care facilities can vary across many factors such as location, age of the child and hours required. The cost for a typical child averages from $200 to $400 a week for full time care. Infant care adds an additional $100 to that total due to the lower staff to child ratio.  Additional expenses may include cost of laundry and diapers and meals. Then for older children there may be a cost for additional activities such as classes or field trips.

There is another childcare option to consider, one that allows for more attention and flexibility to your child’s needs. An “au pair “ is a live-in childcare service, the word comes from the French meaning “at par” or works for a family usually relating to childcare.  Here are a few factors that may help you to evaluate this service:

Cost:
The au pair works for a rate of about $7.50 an hour, for 45 hours per week. That rate beats in- home care which usually runs $10.00-12.00/hour. The rate stays the same no matter how many children. So if you have three children and day care costs have become impossible, this is an option to consider.
Childcare providers who work in their own home usually charge over $150.00/week/
For example, two children in day care at an average cost of $200/week would cost over $20,000 per year, while an au pair for one year would cost about $17,000.

Services provided:
Au Pairs provide childcare and perform duties related to child care, such as meal preparation,the children's laundry and cleaning up the play area. They can work flexible hours and up to 45 hours per week. Plus you avoid the hassle of driving to and from a day care facility.

Unique factors:
Cultural exchange also brings the opportunity to learn about other cultures and learn even more about your own, as you share with someone from outside your county. The au pair lives in your home creating an extended family and the whole family gets to know each other.

Where to get more information:
AuPairCare is a leading agency providing childcare service for over twenty years.

Phone 1 800 428 7247
or Check out their website:
http://www.aupaircare.com/

And to all busy mothers---Have a Happy Mother's Day

On a blustery Sunday afternoon in February, a group of young women from around the world gathered at Cross Creek Mall. They were there to make and dress stuffed bears and attach hand-written notes in their own language. The bears would then be given to hospitalized children at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

The 14 young women were au pairs, in this country through a program called AuPairCare, an agency that places the live-in child caregivers with host families. “They come over from other countries to provide up to 45 hours a week of child care while they attend school,” said Amy Watson, the AuPairCare area director.

There are about 20 au pairs in and around Cumberland County and this is the second year that they have participated in the Share-a-Bear campaign. It is a national event sponsored by AuPairCare and Build-A-Bear Workshop stores.

Mandy Elsnitz, an au pair living with a family with three children in Whiteville, said she enjoyed making something “to give to someone who needs it and will be happy about it.” Then she laughs and admits she owns two Build-A-Bears herself  “It’s something we like, too,” she said.  Elsnitz is from Germany and has been in Whiteville since July. She plans on becoming an elementary school teacher. “You can learn from different cultures; that’s why I’m an au pair,” she said. “I lived in Munich, so it’s a little different, but I like it.”