Covid-19 Protocol Updates
- WA State Corona Virus Response: https://coronavirus.wa.gov
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov
Click the Link Below to Share Your Cultural Exchange Story:
Speak Your Truth – Global Awareness
WA Educational Options
Local WA Colleges and Universities:
- Cascadia Community College (Bothell)
- Edmonds Community College (Lynnwood)
- Everett Community College
- Green River Community College (Auburn and Kent)
- Highline Community College (Des Moines and Federal Way)
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology (Kirkland)
- MOST POPULAR – North Seattle Community College
- Photographic Center Northwest – Seattle hybrid courses
- Pierce College (Lakewood and Pullayup)
- Renton Technical College
- MOST POPULAR – Seattle Central Community College
- Shoreline Community College
- South Seattle Community College
- South Puget Sound Community College (Olympia)
- Tacoma Community College (Tacoma and Gig Harbor)
- UW – Continuing Education
Weekend/Blended Learning (hybrid) Programs – designed for Au Pair community (note only in-person or hybrid accepted by APIA):
- Au Pair Weekend – MOST POPULAR (Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, LA and around the US with various accredited universities)
- College of St. Rose – Silver Bay (Albany, NY and Las Vegas, NV)
- University Au Pair Program – Long Island University (Brookville, NY)
- Classroom Au Pair – Hudson College- (NJ)
- Learning Across America – Towson University (various locations)
- Borough of Manhattan Community College – Various in-person cities
English as a Second Language (ESL) focus – WA in person:
- Alps Language School (4 week sessions for 40 hours of instruction – some possible TOEFL testing prep)
- North Seattle Community College
- Seattle Central Community College
- Cascadia College (J-1 students would need to enroll through the College & Career Foundations office on campus. They can be reached by email at eslabe@cascadia.edu.)
Health, Driving, Social Security, Tax and LGBTQ+ Resources
- 24/7 CISI Insurance Chat
- American Red Cross Training (not part of J-1 education requirement).– Scholarships available for active au pairs with more than 6 months remaining.
- Finding a Doctor or Urgent Care Center – CISI Caremed Insurance. For further insurance assistance, au pairs can call 18009AUPAIR ext. 5130 or claimhelp@culturalinsurance.com
To locate the closest urgent care to you, enter your zip code and select “primary” insurance in this Aetna Search Tool: www.aetna.com/docfind/custom/passport
- Planned Parenthood – women’s health care – out of insurance network
- Open Path – psychotherapy collective – out of insurance network
- Lost Insurance Card – If you lost your insurance card, email or call CISI (info above) and include your full name, ID number and your host family’s address. They will send you another card.
- Bartell Drug Care Clinics (typically $75 per visit)
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How to File an Insurance Claim
Click here to get the form. For claim submission questions, call (800) 303-8120, prompt 5 or 203-399-5130 or email claimhelp@culturalinsurance.com
- Sports Insurance Registration Form (for added skiing, ice skating and other sports insurance, email: apinsurance@aifs.com
- Modestly Priced Dental Care from UW
- Modestly Priced Dental Care in King County
- Social Security Office Locator and Information
You will need to bring: 1) Your passport and visa 2) Your 1-94 entrance number 3) Your DS-2019 form, including host family name, address and contact info. You can print out and fill out an application beforehand, or complete it there. Card should be mailed 5-7 days later. (Should you encounter issues please refer to the POM -program operations manual- for social security and the reference to au pair information can be found in section RM 10211.345.)
- I-94 Numbers and Cards
- Swerve Driving Classes/Evaluation
- 9-1-1 Driving School
- WA Driver’s License Guide
- WA State Drivers License Info
- WA Driving Test Locations
- WA Practice Written Driving Tests
- What to Do After an Accident
- What to Keep in the Car Glove Box
- YMCA – Greater Seattle area community center
- Expat Tax Services and Frequently Asked Questions – HR Block
- More Tax Info from APIA
- USPS Change of Address (use confirmation letter for proof of residency, if you have moved)
- Gay City
- DEI Learning Journey (learn more about being an ally)
Local Volunteering Resources
- Boys and Girls Clubs of King County
- Duwamish Alive!
- Global Awareness
- March of Dimes in WA
- Northwest Harvest
- Puget Sound Blood Center
- Treehouse
- ELLA – Practice your conversational English (does not count toward educational hours)
- VolunteerMatch – to find the volunteer program that best fits you
Places to Go/Things to Do with Kids (Ensure family comfort with social distancing rules.)
- Kidz Bounce in Issaquah
- Macaroni Kid – Eastside
- Macaroni Kid – South Puget Sound
- NW Trek Wildlife Park
- Pacific Science Center
- Seattle Aquarium
- Seattle Gymnastic Academy
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Tiny Beans Seattle
- Funtastic Playtorium and Slime – Factoria
Links Relating to Positive Discipline
- 5 Ways to Get Kids to Listen
- Negotiating with Kids
- Positive Discipline
- Dealing with Power Struggles
- Teaching Responsibility – Chore Charts
Travel Links for Au Pairs (International travel is limited – contact your CC before you travel.)
- APIA Form for Travel Outside the US (Fill this form out and send along with your original DS2019 form to the CT office for international travel at least 4 weeks before your trip, including Canada and Mexico. This signature will allow your visa to be a multiple entry visa.)
- Travel Outside of US Policies
- International Travel
- Visiting Mexico
- Visiting Canada (Find out if you need a visa depending on your citizenship and if you fly or drive.)
- Amtrak – NW Train Routes
- APIA Affiliated Travel Groups
- Flix Bus to Portland, Vancouver, and more
- Hostelling International
- Hostels.com
- McMenamins Hotels in PNW
- Shuttle Express – ride to SeaTac Airport
- TrekAmerica – Grand American Adventures Travel Tours – Really popular 20% discounted group travel for au pairs. Ask me for our coupon code to receive the discounts! 1-800-TREKUSA
- Shipping Items Back Home
- MTA Bus Routes – Trip Planner for Greater Seattle/Eastside
- Park and Ride Locations for using public transportation – Greater Seattle/Eastside
- Automatic Revalidation Policy (Carry for travel in to Canada, Mexico & the adjacent islands in year two)