AuPairCare

Michelle Longey is the new area director for AuPairCare, a child care and cultural exchange organization.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - At only two, Kelley Calvillo of Longmeadow is learning conversational Spanish on a daily basis, much to the delight of her parents Justin and Katie Calvillo.

Monica Gomez-Moya, 24, of Mexico, is Kelley's au pair and was selected by the Calvillos through AuPairCare, a child care and cultural exchange organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of State for placing qualified young people from around the world with American families. Michelle Longey of West Springfield was recently named the area director for AuPairCare.

"I have always been interested in cultural exchange and international relationships," said Longey during an interview in her home. "Having an au pair is a wonderful mix of cultural exchange and child care for families."

Longey noted her educational background in International Studies and her business background in Marketing Communications has been a plus in her new role that provides continual support for area host families and their au pairs, as well as educating interested families on AuPairCare's programs.

"During my final year at Mount Holyoke College, I lived with a family and in exchange for room and board, I watched their children after school and some nights," said Longey.

After graduating from Mount Holyoke, Longey moved to Germany and attended the University of Cologne for one year. Once back in the states, she and her husband Andrew spent some time in Colorado before settling back in Western Massachusetts to raise their family. They are now the proud parents of Emilia, 6, Seth, 3, and Christine, 19 months.

"I can relate to both the host families and the au pairs," added Longey. "I know how important it is to have reliable, trustworthy child care. I also know what it is like to live with another family and how it feels to move to a foreign country, struggle through the language barrier and be in awe of the whole experience."

For Katie and Justin Cavillo, they knew their busy work lives would make juggling the schedules of child care facilities difficult, so they turned to AuPairCare as an option.

"AuPairCare is great," said Justin Cavillo during a phone interview, noting that Kelley has someone who is attentive to her needs, and Monica also benefits with the cultural exchange.

"Once you get past the first two months of transition for everyone, it can be a wonderful experience," he said, adding, "AuPairCare takes a lot of care so that expectations from all participants are met."

Longey echoed those sentiments, noting that all au pairs have previous documented child care experience, speak conversational English, have passed a background check and interview process with both AuPairCare and their overseas affiliate, are in good health and have completed secondary education. Additionally, au pairs attend AuPairCare Academy where they receive training in child development, household safety, cultural differences and CPR.

Au pairs offer up to 45 hours per week of child care, providing families with a culturally enriching and secure form of live-in child care in return for the opportunity to live with an American family and become immersed in American culture.

"There are so many aspects of the job that I like," said Longey. "I like meeting the host families and also meeting with the au pairs once a month at our social events. It also provides an excellent opportunity to work from home, work for an amazing company, and work with and meet wonderful families and au pairs."

Longey said one of the many benefits of au pair care is it is affordable, at around $300 a week and there is no additional cost for more than one child. Other "amazing benefits" according to Longey range from personalized child care within the comfort of your own home, flexible schedules to meet a family's needs, and assistance with child-related household duties. Household duties can range from helping with meals, bathing, dressing, driving children to school, appointments and activities and cleaning a play room or a children's room.

Longey also noted one of the important aspects of the experience is the "unique cultural learning experience for everyone involved."

Once a family applies for consideration in AuPairCare, Longey conducts a host family interview.

"I need to meet all the members of the family, confirm both parents are U.S. citizens or green card holders, assess the suitability of the host family's home and the au pair's private bedroom, and educate the family about the program and Department of State requirements," she said.

During the interview process, Longey will learn the family's requirements and reasons for hosting an au pair, assess whether the family's needs are compatible with the au pair program, communicate realistic expectations of the program, educate the family about the selection process, review the host family agreement, and contact two references.

Once the family has been accepted into the program, Longey said the matching process can begin and can routinely take a minimum of five weeks.

For the Calvillos, the AuPairCare process was very "accommodating," from their first au pair experience with Cecilia of Ecuador, to Monica Gomez-Moya who has been with their family since November.

"Since we expect our family to grow, we can't imagine life without au pairs from AuPairCare," said Justin Cavillo.

Longey noted that not only does she have an opportunity to bond with the family members and au pairs, but monthly social gatherings for all nine families in Western Massachusetts allow all of the au pairs and their respective "families" to get to know each other.

On Feb. 10, Longey will host a social from 1 to 3 p.m. at Magic Wings butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield for all of the au pairs and family members, and welcomes area residents who are interested in the program to stop in and talk to the families for their input. For interested individuals who are unable to attend the Feb. 10 affair, Longey will host a free informational program on March 1 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Richard Salter Storrs Library, 693 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow.

For more information on AuPairCare, call Longey at 363-2465 or contact her via e-mail at michelleapc@comcast.net to register for either the Feb. 10 or March 1 events. For more details on the organization, visit www.aupaircare.com.

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With the help of AuPairCare, Kansas City area families are finding that flexible, live-in childcare is enhanced with a cultural learning experience.

About 15 years ago, AuPairCare began offering their services in the Kansas City area. Since then the program has grown to include up to 30 families. Maggie Huffman has been an Area Director for AuPairCare since May 2004. As the area grew in late 2007, Betsy Ellsworth was hired to service parts of Kansas City, as well.

AuPairCare was one of the first au pair companies approved by the U. S. Department of State in 1989. More than 30, 000 participants have come to the United States from 40 countries since AuPairCare started.

Headquartered in San Francisco, AuPairCare is a division of Intrax Cultural Exchange.

The au pair works up to 45 hours per week providing childcare for the family, Huffman said.

State Department regulations require the au pair to take at least six hours of college classes during the year of living with the family. They can agree to a second year.

"For me, the cultural aspect is the most exciting part of it," Huffman said.

Having grown up overseas and traveled extensively, Huffman understands the significance of American children being exposed to other cultures in a positive manner.

The schedules negotiated by families often work out so that the au pair gets the children ready for school in the morning. The au pair usually schedules a college class to complete the educational requirements of the program while the children are in school or in the evening hours when the parents have returned home from work.

Duties in the AuPairCare program may include laundry or light cleaning duties that involve the children's needs, but are not general family housekeeping.

"These aren't maids to do housework. They're members of the family," Huffman said.

However, as a member of the family, the au pair can help others clean up the dinner table, but sits at the table eating with the family. Sometimes the au pair is eager to cook a dish from the native country to share with the family, Huffman said.

In November, area au pairs met at Betsy Ellsworth's home and shared traditional dishes with one another. "We had foods from the Ukraine, Poland, Brazil, and Mexico," said Ellsworth, "it was fun to taste a little piece of each au pair's home!"

The family must provide local transportation for the au pair, usually access to a family car. The family provides the au pair with a $ 158 stipend per week above the AuPairCare program fees.

They provide up to $500 a year for the au pair's college classes, but additional fees are the responsibility of the student. Total costs work out to less than $7 per hour, including fees to AuPairCare, Huffman said.

That is the same cost whether for one child or five, which makes it different from many nanny employment arrangements. The au pair must have her own room, but may share a bathroom with other members of the family.

Au pair candidates are screened in their home countries by program partners of the company and their references are checked. Candidates get training in childcare in their home countries. Some also are trained regarding children younger than 2 years old or children with disabilities.

Candidates vary in their range of English abilities. Students from Scandinavian countries usually have had years of English studies, while others may be less fluent.

Huffman emphasizes the importance of the selection process in matching an au pair with the family. She screens the families in this area. Once approved, families visit the company's award-winning online Family Room to learn about candidates. Placement Directors in the San Francisco office also offer personalized matching support upon request. Families are encouraged to have several phone conversations with candidates to establish a rapport. Talking together is important to building communication, Huffman said. The au pair will receive more training from AuPairCare, once in this country. At the completion of the year, the family may retain the au pair for a second year, while some au pairs spend their second year with new families.

AuPairCare provides more support services than other companies, Huffman said. She arranges a variety of monthly activities for au pairs, including snow tubing at Snow Creek, bike rides on the Katy Trail, and scavenger hunts at the Plaza. These monthly meetings offer the au pairs a chance to learn more about the area, but also foster friendships with other au pairs, thus creating a support group. Families and au pairs join in an activity once or twice a year.

This year the au pairs and their host families met for a holiday cookie exchange. In keeping with the holiday spirit, and in an effort to espouse community involvement, each family brought a toy to donate to Toys For Tots. In the past, au pairs have also participated in the "Mito What? Run," working at children's games and face-painting booths. The au pairs who participated in this event said it was their favorite gathering of they year. Au pair Carol Vidal from Brazil said, " I loved being a part of something that wasn't all about me. It was so great to play with the kids and to be a part of such an important event in the community. I want to do this again next year!"

As Area Directors, Huffman and Ellsworth talk monthly with the au pairs and separately with the host family to see if there are any issues to discuss. This continued support, Huffman says, allows for open communication and an opportunity to ensure a successful placement.

To learn more about AuPairCare, visit www.aupaircare.com or call 1-800-4-AUPAIR.

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Since 27-year-old Saori Hayakawa moved from Tokyo, Japan to Highland Township last February, she has joined a crochet club at a local coffee shop, sang in a barbershop choir and participated in the animé club at Highland Township Public Library.

But between her new-found hobbies, Saori has become a part of another family – the Roemers on Hickory Ridge Road – as an au pair to their three children, Kaitlin, 5, Audrey, 4, and Brendan, 2.

Kim Roemer decided to explore the au pair program through AuPairCare, a national au pair agency, when she wanted to go back to work.

"I was caring for the kids and we decided it was time for me to go back to work," Kim said. "My son was really young and I was concerned with him not being able to go out of the house and not being in his element. I figured if I wasn't going to be there all the time, I wanted them to learn something different and unique that I wouldn't be able to teach them."

After extensively searching for the right candidate, Kim and her husband, Brian, asked Saori to be their live-in au pair—and they're happy she's chosen to stay another year.

"Our top priority was to find somebody that would fit well with our family and would be respectful but also be themselves while having their own life and to share that with us.

"It's been all of the above. She's a great family member and contributor. When I'm working, it makes me feel a lot better," Kim said. "She feels very invested in our kids' future because she's a part of our family."

Before becoming an au pair, Saori worked in an office in Japan and wanted to do something different with her life.

"I didn't know what an au pair was before I came here from Japan," Saori said. "Before I never thought I liked kids, and I found myself really liking kids."

During a typical day, Saori cares for the children by transporting the two girls to school and even volunteering there, cooking, cleaning and teaching the kids Japanese songs, dances and crafts, such as origami.

Brian said just being able to relax and feel confident that his children are cared for during the work day has helped make the experience even more worthwhile. "She does a lot of fun things with the kids as far as planning activities for them," he said. "She loves to get out and I really think she's getting the full experience."

After one year with the Roemer family, Saori said her life has changed for the better.

"The Roemers, especially Kim, my house mother, had a lot in common with me," Saori said. "They inspired me more than I expected. "I am now in a chorus, I'm doing a lot of volunteering by myself. Kim drove me to do it and her influence is meaningful."

Saori will be required to end her au pair position in February in 2009 after a two-year stay, but she plans to stay in the United States to possibly teach English to Japanese children or to promote the au pair program to women in other foreign countries.

"The best thing I like is the American people," Saori said. "They are so expressive, emotional, even the kids are very different. In Japan, we are very straight in school and everyone has to do the same thing and follow the rules, but here they expect them to be free and to exceed in their imaginations and their possibilities."

According to AuPairCare's web site, more than 30,000 au pairs from 40 countries have been placed with American families since 1989. On average, AuPairCare services cost $15,000 per year. Each week, the au pair is paid $300 for up to 45 hours of work.

In January, Saori was awarded the "Ultimate Au Pair" award from AuPairCare after being nominated by the Roemer family. The award recognizes the au pair that goes above and beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of an au pair to embrace the spirit of cultural exchange while making lasting contributions to their host family and community.

"The hardest thing is that she won't always be here, but she'll always be part of our life," Kim said. "We found a Japanese extension to the Roemer family."

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The local group of au pairs, supervised by AuPairCare in San Francisco, celebrated the end of summer with a cookout Aug. 19 at the home of local community coordinator Kristin Large. Each au pair brought a dish from their country or a dish they prepared with their host family. Read more

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Mark and Danielle King of Frisco first began researching childcare options when their daughter, Logan, turned six months old and Danielle was looking to rejoin the workforce. They looked at the various alternatives including a nanny, in-home childcare and daycare facilities, but one in particular caught their eye – AuPairCare. AuPairCare is a designated sponsor of au pairs and specializes in matching host families with live-in childcare providers from other countries. "We wanted our daughter to take naps in her own bed, stay on her own schedule and have consistency during the week," says Ms. King. Logan is now six years old, and the King family is enjoying their fourth au pair since their first experience with AuPairCare several years ago. Read more

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Giovana Bueno is back home in Brazil, but she'll always be part of the Hodges' family portrait. If the Hodges could have adopted Bueno, "we would have," said the family of its live-in au pair.

With three children – Ashlyn, 8, and twins Brady and Brock, 4 – Krista and Shawn Hodges looked into AuPairCare child care after hearing about it from another mom during a family vacation to Hilton Head, S.C. Read more

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On May 20 the weather could not have been better for AuPairCare's first Family Day Cookout at Howard-McVay Park. More than 40 people gathered to meet, eat great food and hear about experiences with other cultures. Some of the families even brought grandparents along to be part of the event.

The families all have one thing in common - their childcare provider is from another country and lives with them in their home. Read more

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Christina Hanford writes: "Sunday, April 22nd, is not just any spring day it's National Earth Day, the largest, most celebrated environmental event across the globe, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

…Claire Turner, a yoga instructor and Los Angeles County area director of the local AuPairCare office, based in Marina del Rey, decided she'd take part in the celebration.

Turner created a Yoga on the Beach event to support Earth Day for the 30 or so
au pairs she oversees in West Los Angeles, including many from Santa Monica, Venice and the Marina." Read more

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Christina Hanford writes: "Sunday, April 22nd, is not just any spring day it's National Earth Day, the largest, most celebrated environmental event across the globe, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

While the thought of employing someone from another country as a live-in child care aide may seem unusual in the Central Valley, a San Francisco company sees the region as fertile ground for its work.

AuPairCare, a unit of Intrax Cultural Exchange, has launched a sales effort to find families in the Central Valley who need live-in childcare that could be provided by a pre-screened international au pair. Read more

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Outing: Spring is the perfect time to visit local gardens, arboretums, or flower marts. Your children and au pair can go to the local library, checkout a book on plants and flowers, and then try to identify the different foliage they encounter.

Activity: What better way to learn about life and growth than by planting your own flowers. From seed to sprout to bloom, your children will be amazed by what they can cultivate! Learn how:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/easter/eggshellplantpots

Game: When taking children for a walk in the Springtime, play games such as "I Spy" to take note of what you see outside. Ask the children to look around and find an object that is visible to everyone. Do not share what the object is. Ask a child to share one adjective at a time that describes the object. After each adjective, the others in the group get to guess what the object is. The person who guesses the correct object gets to then share their adjectives for their object. As the game progresses, encourage children to use adjectives that others may not think of, like what an object smells like or sounds like.

Recipe: Cooking is fun for au pairs and kids! Here is a sugar cookie recipe - Use cookie cutters in your favorite Springtime shapes to bake your own cookies. Once cookies have baked and cooled, decorate with fun colored frostings.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe

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Make children sleepy at bedtime and help prevent small children from wetting the bed. A teaspoon of honey at bedtime will act as a sedative to a child's nervous system and will attract and hold fluid in a child's body during the hours of sleeping. When a child over one-year old is given honey, the blood and tissue calcium begins to increase. The calcium unites with excess phosphorous to form a compound that makes bones, teeth, hair, and fingernails. The sedative effect on the nervous system of a child may be observed within an hour. Honey should not be fed to infants under one year of age. Honey is a safe and wholesome food for older children and adults.

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The Silver family consists of host mother Lisa and her two daughters Rebecca (5) and Ella (3). The family is very active in tennis, swimming, and sailing. When au pair Camila Moschen from Brazil joined the Silver family in August 2005, she was a welcome addition to their family. Both Rebecca and Ella bonded with Camila instantly and included her in family activities, such as a day at the ballpark to watch the Seattle Mariners, and on family trips to Florida and Sun Valley. Camila has experienced American culture and both family and au pair have bonded as a result.

Lisa and Camila had the opportunity for a very unique experience when they ran together in the St. Patrick's Day run in Seattle, WA. The St. Patrick's Day run is held annually and is the largest St. Patrick's Day fun run in the country. It attracts nearly 12,500 runners, walkers, and joggers who dress up with Irish spirit in order to celebrate the arrival of Spring and Irish heritage. The course is about 3.5 miles long and runs between Seattle Center and Safeco Field. Participants raise money for donations to the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, an organization that addresses the needs of seriously ill children and their families. Lisa and Camila dressed up in green and completed the course in support of the Starlight Starbright foundation.

Not only has the Silver family connected with Camila and helped her assimilate, but Lisa has been interactive with all the au pairs in her area. Lisa hosted the area Christmas potluck at her home, inviting over 40 au pairs. Au pairs were there from countries such as Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Argentina, Germany, Turkey, Thailand, and Poland. They all brought a dish from their home country to share with the group.

The Silver family has bonded with their au pair, as well as the extended au pair community on Mercer Island. The mutual exchange of food, music and culture has enhanced the lives of all participants.

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Aline from Brazil arrived in the United States in June 2005. She is the au pair for the Bindi Family in Birmingham, Michigan. When asked why she wanted to be an au pair, Aline stated, "I want to take care of children... and to learn a foreign language, extend my horizons, and become independent." In her nine months here, Aline has managed to do all of those things. She provides care to the two Bindi children, Kyle (11) and Cameron (7) and takes them Cray fishing on Quarton Lake. She helps the boys with their homework and plays soccer with Cameron. Aline has also improved her English by taking courses at her local community college, as well as interacting within her community.

Aline became involved with the Zion Christian Church through a friend at Bible study. Through this connection, Aline participated in the Zion Christian Church Fundraiser Luncheon in Troy, MI where she helped prepare and serve a delicious Brazilian lunch to over 500 people from the community. The proceeds from the luncheon went to benefit the Refugio Orphanage in Sorcaba, Brazil. The Orphanage is home to about 80 children, ages 0-18 and the luncheon raised just over $6,000 for the cause. In support of Aline, the Bindi Family attended the fundraiser as well.

When asked about her experience as an au pair, Aline said, "I grew up a lot! I learned to make my own decision and understand I have responsibilities... like knowing I need plenty of sleep to work on Monday morning and trying to save money in the U.S."

Aline will take her experiences from the au pair program and apply them to her studies and career once she returns to Brazil. She hopes to pursue a job in childcare upon completion of her degree in Brazil.

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