Cultural Care Au Pair

Nannies are typically very expensive and daycare centers have limited hours that may not fit with your work schedule. At an average cost of $300 per week, regardless of the number of children in your family, Cultural Care Au Pair is competitively priced. You are also able to customize your au pair’s schedule to best accommodate your family’s specific needs.

With the Cultural Care Au Pair program, your family receives more than just high quality, live-in, affordable childcare—you also reap the benefits of cultural exchange. You and your children can learn about the customs of another country or even learn a new language. For many of our host families, welcoming a Cultural Care au pair into their homes is also the first step in building a lifelong, culturally enriching friendship.

Although all designated au pair agencies must comply with the same regulations, Cultural Care Au Pair sets itself apart by going above and beyond what is required by the U.S. Department of State. Unlike other leading au pair organizations, we:

• Use a personalized matching system to find your ideal au pair candidate
• Give families exclusive access to their au pair candidate during the matching process
• Do not charge families extra for certain au pair qualifications
• Offer hands-on, classroom training to our au pairs before they arrive at your home
• Make all travel arrangements for your au pair’s arrival to the U.S. and to your home town
• Provide ongoing safety training throughout your au pair’s year

Cultural Care recruits au pairs from Europe, South America, Central America, Mexico, Australia and South Africa. We recruit au pairs from more than 35 countries around the world. Some of our largest recruitment countries include Germany, Brazil, Czech Republic/Slovakia, Poland and Sweden. We also have many au pair candidates who have already spent a year as an au pair in the U.S. with Cultural Care Au Pair and would like to extend their stay with a new family.

Cultural Care au pairs arrive frequently throughout the year. The time it takes to find you an au pair will depend on your family’s specific needs and the availability of au pairs with corresponding qualifications. Generally, a Cultural Care au pair can arrive at your home within eight to ten weeks of submitting your application, although if you have urgent childcare needs, we will do our best to accommodate your family. Please call 800-333-6056 for more information.

Yes. In fact, male au pairs are some of our most successful placements and represent about 10 percent of the program enrollment. Male au pairs become a positive and energetic “big brother” role model for many families.

No. Our program fee and your au pair’s weekly stipend are fixed, regardless of the number of children you have at home or their ages.

Absolutely. Cultural Care Au Pair welcomes single parents to participate in our program. Many single parent families, as well as other types of families, have enjoyed the benefits of hosting an au pair.

No. Au pairs are required to reside with and provide childcare for only one family during their program year.

Yes. We do have some au pairs who are interested in caring for children with special needs. Most au pairs do not have any formal childcare education, so we do encourage you to call Cultural Care Au Pair before applying to discuss your specific situation. Please also keep in mind that it will most likely take a little longer to match you with a suitable au pair.

Yes. Our Summer Au Pair Program provides the same high quality, flexible, live-in childcare as our yearlong program for up to 3 1⁄2 months during the summer. Summer au pairs are subject to the same rigorous screening and matching process and can play many roles with your children during summer vacations. They can be a companion, activities coordinator, tutor, swim instructor, caregiver, friend and more.

In addition to the childcare experience detailed on their application, all au pairs receive an independent study unit on childcare before their departure. Upon arrival to the U.S., Cultural Care au pairs attend a specially designed, four-day training program focused on child development and safety. The program is held on the campus of St. John’s University, just outside of New York City. Training continues throughout the year with our Continuing Education Program developed in partnership with the National Safe Kids Campaign. Local childcare coordinators dedicate four of their monthly meetings to different safety and injury prevention instruction units as follow-up training to the Cultural Care Au Pair Training School. Topics include bike safety, playground and water safety, effective communication and behavior management.

Yes, in fact, Cultural Care Au Pair requires it. The phone interview is a crucial part of the screening process and the best way for you to get to know an au pair candidate before making a decision.

Cultural Care Au Pair has a unique personalized matching process. Your regional manager will select an au pair who best matches your family’s interests, lifestyle and childcare needs. We encourage you to speak with your potential au pair more than once and call the references before making this important decision. If you are not entirely comfortable with the first match, your feedback will help your Program Director choose another applicant quickly. We will continue to work with you until you select an au pair with whom you are completely satisfied.

Yes. Cultural Care Au Pair will make all the arrangements for your au pair to travel from the Cultural Care Au Pair Training School to the gateway or bus stop we service nearest you. A round trip domestic transportation fee will be charged when you select your au pair.

Most au pairs are fully licensed to drive in their home countries. You may need to assist them in getting a state driving license upon arrival with the help of your local childcare coordinator. Requirements may vary by state and by insurance carrier. If you require your au pair to drive, you are responsible for securing the appropriate auto and liability insurance.

Appreciating the cultural exchange aspect of the program is integral in the success of your year. We encourage you to research on the Web or visit your local library and bookstore to read more on the culture and traditions of your au pair’s home country and town. Personalize her/his living space with decorations from her/his country or frame the photos of friends and family included in the application. Tell your children a little about the au pair’s home country and begin using his or her name around them. Let your children know that your au pair will need their cooperation in getting used to language and cultural differences. Make a plan for all family members to spend some time helping your new au pair get acquainted with your home and your community. With some preparation, your au pair will soon become an integral member and valued addition to your family.

Families should always allow for a “settling in” period of about a month. Your local childcare coordinator will be there to assist you and your au pair during this adjustment period. If incompatibilities cannot be resolved, we will work with you to find a solution as soon as possible.

Au pairs cannot work more than 10 hours per day or 45 hours per week. These limits would still apply when you are out of town, including hours when the children are sleeping. You would need to make additional childcare arrangements to cover any time beyond the au pair’s maximum working hours.

The U.S. Department of State allows au pairs in good standing to extend their program participation for an additional 12, 9 or 6 months. An au pair has the choice either to live with their current host family or to request to change communities for their extended stay.

In the event of an emergency, you can reach an on-call Cultural Care staff member, 24-hours a day, seven days a week by calling 800-333-6056.