Michele & David Chazen

Census 2010 - Do We Count Our Au Pair?

Posted by: mchazen on March 17, 2010

While filling out census forms for the 2010 census, some host families have been asking us whether or not they should count their au pair as a household member.

The answer is : In the first section where it asks about household members there’s a separate box for live in babysitters and others who may live in the home but may not be members of the family and that’s where an au pair can be counted.

If you have any further questions, you can go to the census website.

Putting Kids First: helping at-risk children worldwide

Posted by: mchazen on March 8, 2010

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s mission to break down barriers of culture and language through educational exchange, a group of local childcare coordinators and staff recently visited South Africa to see firsthand the difference the donations from the Cultural Care community have made through our charitable organization Kids First.

Since it’s inception in 2004, Kids First has supported many worldwide organizations that work with at-risk youth. From the daycare center in Brazil to the school library in New Orleans to an orphanage in Russia, Kids First has supported a wide range of global organizations. Our most recent work at an orphanage and daycare center in a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown, South Africa is another great example of the work we are doing worldwide.

Cultural Care staff and LCCs had an opportunity to visit several projects funded through CHOSA, an organization that Kids First supports. CHOSA provides support to programs that work with at-risk children and their families to provide nutrition, medication, clothing, food, shelter and an education.

During the service visit, those who participated had a chance to visit the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center, which helps 150 children, some of whom are HIV positive. Donations received from au pairs, host families and Cultural Care LCCs and staff have provided funds for the building of a new structure for the infants and toddlers in the center. The group from Cultural Care Au Pair had an opportunity to see the new structure, meet the inspirational director and dedicated teachers and had some time to play with the children.

In addition, the group visited the Ilitha-Labantwana Place of Safety, the Philani Child Health and Nutrition Project, the Emasithandane Children’s Project and the Baphumulele Children’s Home. The Cultural Care team is now bringing their experience back to the U.S. to raise awareness, and additional funds for even more projects that Kids First supports.

“Our Kids First trip to Cape Town was truly amazing and inspiring,” says Local Childcare Coordinator Trudy Mar. “The work, effort, love and sacrifice the women heading up these projects give to all of the kids goes well beyond what most of us could imagine. If one little body sleeps better, eats better and smiles more, we’ve helped to change their future and make the world a better place. Every dollar we raise for Kids First definitely does make a difference.”

For information about how you can make a contribution to Kids First, or raise awareness for the programs it supports, visit http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/ or contact your Local Childcare Coordinator.

The results are in! Cultural Care Au Pair families are overwhelmingly happy!

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

Haiti Disaster Relief

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.

Getting an au pair is more affordable than ever

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    

Recognize your au pair! Nominations due for 2010 IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award

Posted by: mchazen on December 27, 2009

Every year thousands of young people from all over the world embark on a special journey by becoming an au pair. Now it’s time to recognize the extraordinary and ordinary daily accomplishments that each au pair makes in his or her host family by nominating your au pair for the International Au Pair Association’s seventh annual Au Pair of the Year Award.

The International Au Pair Association established the Au Pair of the Year Award to recognize the many great young men and women participating in the au pair program worldwide. In addition, the award helps highlight public awareness of this valuable cultural exchange program.

For the last two years, au pairs with Cultural Care have been honored with the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award. In 2009, the honor was awarded to Francisco Ricardo Silva de Araújo, of Brazil, an au pair to the Boyer family of Virginia. In 2008, Linda Falter, an au pair from Germany, received the award while she was an au pair for the Sato family of Hayward, California.

What makes your au pair outstanding?
Maybe it’s the day-to-day things he or she does, such as kicking around a soccer ball, helping the kids with homework or entertaining them while you cook dinner. Maybe it’s the way he or she has embraced your family, such as teaching your kids her language, baking treats from her home country or coming to watch your children in the winter program at school. Every thing your au pair does that helps your family or brings a rich cultural exchange into your family is worthy of recognition, and a great way of saying thank you to your au pair!

Host families who would like to nominate their au pair should submit an essay detailing what makes their au pair exceptional in the form provided. Nominations for the Au Pair of the Year Award must be received by Friday, January 15. Once you’ve submitted your nomination, don’t forget to share it with your au pair to show her or him how much you think of what she or he does for your family!

Simply nominating an au pair for the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award is a wonderful honor that can show your au pair how much you value what she or he does for your family. This award allows so many in the au pair community to reflect on what an incredibly positive program this is and the many lives it touches and enriches along the way.

For more information about the Au Pair of the Year Award or nominating your au pair please click here.

Two New Great Resources For Host Families

Posted by: mchazen on September 10, 2009

Join our on line Cultural Care Community

We are happy to announce an innovative on-line resource for host families, the Cultural Care Community. On our new site, families can ask a question, share an idea or “best practice” they use with their au pair, report a problem they are having or give praise. Cultural Care staff, LCCs and other host families can help answer your questions and join in the discussion. This new community is not meant to replace the customer service structure and systems that we already have in place, but rather to give host families a public forum to share with us and to connect with other families. Visit http://community.culturalcare.com, join the conversation and let us know what you think!               

Visit http://www.community.culturalcare.com

New Blog by Cultural Care President

The President of Cultural Care Au Pair, Dave Fougere, has recently started his own blog at www.culturalcarepresident.com

In his Blog Dave will write on many topics covering his personal life as a parent, Host Dad and his professional perspective heading the Cultural Care organization. Dave enjoys meeting and speaking with other host parents and responding to their questions and concerns. This blog will serve as an extension of those efforts. Join Dave in the conversation!

Au Pair Stipend Increase

Posted by: mchazen on July 17, 2009

Please be advised that in May of 2007, legislation was passed which resulted in a three-step plan to increase the federal minimum wage each July until 2009. The first increase occurred in July, 2007, the second occured in July, 2008 and the third increase will go into effect on Friday, July 24, 2009.

As a reminder, the au pair weekly stipend is based, in part, on the federal minimum wage and, therefore, will increase accordingly. In order to remain compliant with U.S. Department of State regulations, we are asking all host families pay their au pair at the new stipend rate of $195.75 effective the week of July 20th, 2009. Cultural Care Au Pair literature and agreements stipulate that host families comply with all regulations and, therefore, adherence to these changes is required of all program participants.

The exact calculation used to determine the weekly stipend as well as the resulting changes to the stipend over the course of the three year plan is as follows:

Federal Minimum Wage x 45 Hours
- 40% (room and board allowance)
Au Pair Weekly Stipend Total

Tourist Visa Requirements For Canada

Posted by: mchazen on July 16, 2009

Tourist Visa Requirements for Canada

Starting July 14 2009, all Mexican and Czech nationals (among other countries) require a tourist visa when traveling to Canada.              
For more information please read the News release on the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Website.
See a complete list of countries requiring a tourist visa for Canada as well as instructions on how to apply for one and find all Travel Guidelines on Infosource.

Cultural Care Au Pair on ABC news

Posted by: mchazen on June 5, 2009

Cultural Care Au Pair on ABC news

by Stephanie Rueter

Cultural Care Au Pair’s Peace of Mind Guarantee made national news yesterday as families look for protection against an uncertain ecomonic climate. Our Peace of Mind Guarantee offers a financial safeguard in the case that a host parent loses a job, and this program feature, announced in March, is one reason why host moms Krysti Zeiger and Brenda Sonneveldt, both chose to host a Cultural Care au pair. Watch the story now!