Tag Archives: Chicagoland

When the working day is through….

Au Pairs work hard all week long.  They provide childcare for their Host Families for up to 10 hours a day and 45 hours a week.  They have fun with the children; taking them to the park, playing games, reading, helping with homework, driving to activities and so much more.  So when the work week is over, Au Pairs love to take a break and relax.

On Friday, April 16 three Au Pair in America clusters from the western suburbs gathered at Expression Dance Studio in Westmont for:  “Au Pair Dance Night Out.”  They were joined by their local Community Counselors Maria, Pat and Pam, and one very brave set of Au Pair parents for some dance lessons and a whole lot of fun.  The au pairs learned a few “smooth latin moves” and how to have fun, and look good out on the dance floor.  One Au Pair commented:  “Dance Night was so much fun, we should do this again very soon.”

 Au Pair Dance Night Out 2010

March is Red Cross Month

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Did you know that Au Pair in America will pay for the cost of a Red Cross class providing you have at least three months left on your visa and you are taking one of several approved childcare/child safety related classes, such as infant/child CPR or Community First Aid and Safety.

The American Red Cross of Chicago is offering a class designed for childcare providers, teachers, parents and others who care for children, this course teaches participants how to recognize and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in infants and children up to 8 years of age. Participants take home a skills card as well as information about preventing injuries. The course is (CSCC) CPR/AED, # HSSFA207.  For schedule and more information, visit the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago website. Here is a link to the class: http://arc-chicago.axxiomportal.com/Education/course.aspx?c=7649 . Check with your community counselor for details on payment for courses.

The first official blog post for the Chicago area team

Here it is- the first official blog post for the Chicago area team. 

My name is Angela Weepie and I cover Hyde Park, the South and West Loops, and Bucktown and Wicker Park.  I am writing the first blog post, but I am not going to be the only one blogging.  This blog is a collaborative effort, so you’ll be hearing from each of the Chicagoland counselors.  In my first blog post I am not going to talk about me, rather, I’d like you to join me in celebrating service awards for counselors who have been part of the Au Pair in America family for 15 years. 

We salute Ginny Costigan, Kathy Kressner, Pam Mayer-Caes, Sandee Plescia, Kathy Simon, and Iris Sommer, for their service and dedication to the Au Pair in America program.   We have a fantastic group of counselors here in Chicago who have set the stage for excellence in customer service.  These ladies remember hand delivering au pair applications, and sitting in their cars in the mall parking lot reading applications and swapping them with each other to find the best fit for both the au pairs and host families.  Technology has brought us to our SHARE system where families have the entire pool of au pair applicants at their fingertips 24 hours a day. From then until now, we continue to bring the world together.  Congratulations ladies, I am honored to work with each and every one of you.

The Connecticut office often calls community counselors the face of the organization, well now you get to hear our voices…