Finding an au pair: intercultural, live-in childcare By EF AU Pair You've got a big week at the office and your spouse is away on a business trip but arranging carpool for soccer and piano and finding daycare for your youngest child just can't wait. Welcome to parenthood and the childcare crisis more and more parents now face. What's the solution? For many American families, live-in childcare is the right solution. Knowing that your caregiver is familiar with your family's surroundings and lifestyle can be a very comforting thought to parents. Many families prefer that their childcare provider be as close to the child's home as possible (e.g., when your child has a fever and you can't turn to daycare for help). This makes for more flexible arrangements in times of unexpected events when parents urgently need someone to watch the children. That is one advantage of the au pair option. Before discussing others, here are a few au pair basics… As an in-home childcare provider, an au pair may be a good choice for your family. However it is important to recognize that au pairs are not nannies. An au pair refers to a young person who lives in a country other than her/his own as part of a foreign exchange program. In the United States, au pairs are tightly regulated by the U.S. Department of State (US-DOS) through six non-government agencies authorized to administer the au pair program. Au pairs arrive to the United States on a cultural and educational J-1 exchange visa. In the U.S., au pairs: Are between the ages of 18 and 26 years old Must be proficient in spoken English Must be secondary school graduates or the equivalent Must be in good health as documented by a complete physical Are allowed to work up to 45 hours per week and stay for one year Must receive room, board, and a stipend in exchange for childcare services Must receive 1.5 days off per week, one full weekend off per month, and two weeks of paid vacation Must take at least six semester hours of classes at an accredited post-secondary institution Are to be treated as part of the host family, not as an employee As the last point mentions, the au pair program is a cultural exchange. Au pairs become a family member while staying with their American host families, and this relationship continues long after the program year ends. Families and au pairs who actively participate in this exchange result in the most successful au pair arrangements. The need for au pairs is growing in the U.S. so agencies must assume that middle-income families are facing pressures in working out their childcare needs. Because au pairs are an affordable live-in childcare option, the au pair industry has seen a consistently rising demand for au pairs over the last ten years, especially as mothers have resumed their careers. With increased demands on today's family, childcare must stand for quality, flexibility, reliability and affordability. Taking the time to research and review childcare options can be an overwhelming experience. The stakes are high; your children's health, safety and overall well being are high priorities. Decide if the au pair option is most appropriate for your family by taking EF Au Pair's Childcare Challenge at www.efaupair.org Also see: • Exploring your childcare options • Nanny search checklist