Archive for January, 2010
The results are in! Cultural Care Au Pair families are overwhelmingly happy!
No Comment |Posted by: mchazen on January 30, 2010
The results from the 2009 Host Family Survey are in … and the consensus is that our host families are overwhelmingly happy! To share a few of the stats:
- 96% of host families are satisfied with the quality of childcare that their au pair provides
- 95% are satisfied with the support provided by their Local Childcare Coordinator
- 97% are pleased with the choice they made to use the services of Cultural Care Au Pair
- 96% would recommend the services of Cultural Care Au Pair to other families
Thank you to our current host families for participating and for helping us to further improve our program! Host family feedback gathered through our customer satisfaction survey has contributed to several changes at Cultural Care Au Pair including an improved host family and au pair matching process, increased new and repeat host family discounts, new payment plan options, and better online and phone support for host families. In addition, host families are able to provide direct feedback to senior management at face to face meetings held throughout the country, and they may participate in an online forum (www.community.culturalcare.com) created just for program participants.
We’re thrilled with these results, which are certified by independent survey company Discovery Surveys, Inc. In fact, our participation rate (52% of active host families this time around) and the results themselves have improved each of the four times we have administered the surveys (spring and fall of 2008 and spring and fall of 2009). For more detailed survey information, visit our website
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Presidents Day is Family Day at State Theatre in NJ
No Comment |Posted by: mchazen on January 28, 2010
Looking for something to do on President’s Day
It’s 29 events in 1 day!
February 15th, 2010
Spend the holiday with your family at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ, under the Hub City Big Top and at three theatres on Livingston Avenue.
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Finding the perfect au pair for your childcare made easy
No Comment |Posted by: mchazen on January 24, 2010
Cultural Care Au Pair offers 3 Ways to Match
Cultural Care Au Pair host families now have the ability to review even more applications and au pair profiles with our new 3 Ways to Match, a program feature that let’s host families select the style of matching that best suits their needs. Host families can now search through multiple candidates on their own timeframe, set an appointment for a consultative matching session or work one-on-one with a placement manager who carefully selects possible matches. Best of all, our 3 Ways to Match allows you to enjoy the benefits of all three matching styles to help you find the right au pair for your family. 
To get started
Whether you’re a new family to Cultural Care Au Pair or have already hosted an au pair, our 3 Ways to Match makes it easy for you to begin reviewing au pair candidates right away. Simply fill out your new or repeat application. Once it’s processed, you can log into your account and begin matching. Here’s how it works:
Personalized, exclusive matching
Enjoy the benefits of our trademark one-on-one matching. Your placement manager will select carefully screened applications for you to review based on your family’s unique needs. Each au pair is exclusively reserved for your family’s review, which means no two families are contacting the same reserved au pair candidate at the same time.
Consultative matching
Review our pool of au pair candidates in real time by setting up a consultative matching appointment by phone with your placement manager. This highly effective method allows you to carve out time with your placement manager to review available candidates who are not being reviewed by other families. At the end of the appointment, you have the opportunity to have up to three candidates maximum reserved for your family exclusively.
Search & Select
An enhancement to our current profile review system, this new feature offers families the ability to build a list of au pair profiles available for review. Families can narrow the search field and request, for example, a driver, a second year au pair or someone available now. If you find a candidate of interest to you, you may add the au pair to your list and notify your placement manager of your interest by clicking the Notify Placement Manager button. Your placement manager will review your suggested matches and place up to three of those matches into your host family account for further review of their full application.
For more information about our 3 Ways to Match contact your local childcare coordinator.
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Haiti Disaster Relief
No Comment |Posted by: mchazen on January 22, 2010
The news we hear daily about Haiti is devastating. So many are suffering. How can we help? Please read Cultural Care Au Pair Blog “The Buzz” 
to see how Cultural Cares parent company EF Education First will match your donation to help this country in need.
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January Au Pair Meeting Reminder
No Comment |Posted by: mchazen on January 20, 2010
The January Au Pair meeting will be held on Sunday, January 24th 2010 from 12:45 - 2:45. You will all be Ice Skating at the Red Bank Armory
Where: Red Bank Armory Ice Complex
76 Chestnut Street 
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-450-9001
Cost: $9.00 (admission) + $4.00 ( skate rental )
See you all there. Friends welcome to join us.
Other Au Pair Groups will be joining us.
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Au Pair Weekend Classes
No Comment |Posted by: mchazen on January 10, 2010
Au Pairs as part of the program are required to take classes. (6 credits and or equivalent at an accredited institution) 
One way of fulfilling this requirement is taking a weekend class. One weekend would be equivalent to 3 credits.
Listed below are 3 different options that offer weekend classes
These classes fill up fast so register early to get your desired dates.
Remember to review the dates with your host families before registering to make sure that the dates are ok with them as well.
Silver Bay
Located in Albany NY 
The schedule for Silver Bay is as follows:
March 12
March 12-14, 2010
April 9 - 11, 2010
April 30 - May 2, 2010
July 16-18, 2010
August 20 - 22, 2010
September 10-12, 2010
October, 22-24, 2010
November 19-21 2010
For more information, description of the classes offered and registration information please visit the website at: http://www.silverbayaupaircourse.com/
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C.W. Post
Located in Long Island, NY
Website: http://www.liu.edu/cwis/CWP/aupair/
January 29-31, 2010
History of American Women - American History
TOEFL/ English Preparation Course
Growing up in America
American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on American Society
February 19-21, 2010
Highlights of the Harlem Renaissance
History of American Music
American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on American Society
March 5-7, 2010
History of American Music
Growing up in America
American Government, Politics, and Social Issues
March 19-21, 2010
Storytelling: As A Way of Life: Exploring Traditions
TOEFL/ English Preparation Course
American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on American Society
March 26-28, 2010
History of American Music
Regional Identities - American Culture
April 16-18, 2010
American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on American Society
TOEFL/ English Preparation Course
History of American Music
Celebration of Holidays - American Culture
Please click on the links for the aupaircoursedescriptions1 and aupairwinter-springclassregistrationform.
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Sojourner Douglass College
Located in Maryland
Website: http://www.aupairweekend.org/
The Schedule and class offered is as follows:
March 6-7, 2010 American Culture and Personal Development
April 10-11, 2010 Caring for Special Needs Children
May 1-2, 2010 Child Development and American Government
May 1, 2010 Water Safety
June 5-6, 2010 Experiencing America
June 5, 2010 Infant and Child CPR and First Aid
July 10-11, 2010 to be announced
August 7-8, 2010 to be announced
September 11-12, 2010 to be announced
October 2-3, 2010 to be announced
October 2, 2010 Infant and Child CPR and First Aid
November 6-7, 2010 to be announced
For additional information and registration please visit their website.
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Getting an au pair is more affordable than ever
No Comment |Posted by: mchazen on January 8, 2010
Our host families spoke, and we listened. The economy had an impact on everyone last year. Many families faced new financial challenges, but in the end, they still needed flexible, affordable childcare. As a result, 
Cultural Care Au Pair has created several new payment options that help lower the initial cost for welcoming an au pair into their home in the New Year. Along with this exciting new change, we are also keeping our prices the same for the second year in a row!
Now new families applying to Cultural Care Au Pair will have even more payment options available. Not only have we reduced our application fee, we have created several new payment plans for new and repeat families. As a result, they can continue to enjoy all the benefits they have enjoyed from Cultural Care Au Pair in the past - and even more!
Lower application fee, lowered payment plan options
How does it work? Now new families applying to the program will pay a $75 non-refundable application fee -a savings over our previous $350 application fee. Upon finding the right au pair, a $275 selection fee will be due so the au pair can finalize arrangements to come to the U.S. Offering this new payment structure not only helps secure the au pair for the family, it allows the visa process to begin moving forward.
In addition, families now have even more flexibility when it comes to making payments. On our regular payment plan, families now have the ability to pay the program fee 30 days prior to the au pair’s arrival, instead of upon selection of an au pair. This is great for families who select an au pair early, as it provides them with additional time to pay their program fee.
In addition, our Extended Payment Plan option now lowers the initial deposit to $2,395, plus a $200 payment plan enrollment fee. Families have the option of making a payment in three easy installments or they can log into their host family account at their convenience and pay weekly, bi-weekly or monthly - whatever works best for the family, as long as it’s within the Extended Payment Plan timeframe. Repeat and extension families enjoy all these flexible payment benefits as well, with the additional benefit of a waived application fee!
Along with keeping prices the same in 2010, and creating several new, lower payment plan options, we are also decreasing the cost for enrolling in our Extended Payment Plan, making it even easier to afford an au pair in the New Year. For more information about how to utilize these new options, contact me, your local childcare coordinator, and I will be happy to provide you with additional details about Cultural Care Au Pair’s exciting new payment options for 2010
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