Tag Archives: au pair

Educare Au Pairs available

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AU PAIR IN AMERICA & HOWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE worked together to create a special program that fulfills the requirements to be able to introduce EduCare to Howard County.  The program is open to all students, but will make it possible for EduCare companions to earn their required education!!

EduCare Regulations:

  • EduCare is only for families that require childcare before and after school.
  • EduCare au pairs may not be placed with families that have preschool children except if other, full-time childcare plans have been made.
  • The EduCare au pair may work no more than 10 hours per day, and a maximum of 30 hours per week.
  • Au pairs participating in the EduCare component receive 75 percent of the weekly rate paid to non-EduCare participants.
  • EduCare au pairs must complete a minimum of 12 hours of academic credit or its equivalent during the program year.
  • The host family is required to provide (up to) the first $1,000 toward the cost of the au pair’s required academic course work.

Host Family Comparative Fees

Au Pair

Standard Au Pair

EduCare Companion
Program Fee

$7,295.00

$6,095.00
Match Fee

400.00

400.00
Weekly Stipend*

195.75

146.81
Education

500.00

1000.00
Average per week**

347.00

274.00

*Based on the Federal minimum wage

** Not including education allowance. Including education, difference is $3,196

EduCare in America 2011 Arrival Dates

Tuesday, July 5                                 Monday, July 25

Monday, August 1                             Monday, August 15

Monday, December 5

Privacy and The Internet

fb twitter youtubeJust a reminder about how important it is to respect your host family’s privacy and not share personal details and information.  This applies to all kinds of situations, including: personal conversations, email and social websites.

For your own safety, it is a good idea to be careful what personal information you share about yourself as well. You should not be giving out information like your telephone number and address to people you don’t know.

Once you post something on the internet (even if you later delete it), it can show up elsewhere.  Unless you have specific permission from the host family, you should not post pictures of them, their children or their home on the internet.

If you have a blog or website where you post in your native language, remember there is translation software.  So, even if you say it in your native language, be sure it is not something you will regret.

Travel & Vacation reminders

With Memorial Day just passed and Fourth of July coming up next month, I wanted to remind everyone about program rules on holidays and vacations.

Holidays

  • Host families are NOT REQUIRED to give au pairs any specific holidays.
  • Each host family will make different arrangements on holidays, some au pairs will be off and others will be required to work.
  • Au pairs should NOT make plans for holidays without checking with your host family FIRST.

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  • Au pair earns 2 weeks of paid vacation during the course of her year.
  • The host family can pick a week and the au pair can pick a week, if an agreement is not reached.
  • All vacation should be preplanned (at least 4 weeks in advance.)
  • All au pair’s friends and/or family visits/vacations should be pre-approved prior to purchasing a ticket.
  • If an au pair travels with their host family, it should be discussed UP FRONT whether this is the au pair’s vacation or if she is working.
  • If an au pair travels with the host family to work, the host family is required to pay for her transportation, lodging and meals.

Education Opportunity for Au Pairs

You can fulfill your education requirement by signing up for a unique program called APIA Advantage. Au Pair in America developed this program in partnership with UCLA, a top university in the United States. The Spring session of APIA Advantage will run from March 28 – August 1.

About APIA Advantage:

•The program consists of an online course and community-based activities.
•Au pairs who have taken the course say It is full of interesting material, enriching activities and gives the flexibility to work around your childcare responsibilities (see testimonials below).
•The cost is $500 and it completely satisfies your au pair education requirement (or half of your requirement if you are an EduCare).
•It will broaden your educational and cultural experience in the United States.
The course will run from March 28, 2011 to August 1, 2011. I encourage you to review the program materials (click on the images to the right) and discuss it with your host family. I have also included testimonials below from au pairs who have taken the course.

Register online at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs