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THE AU PAIR STORY....the new childcare solution.

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Contributed by: Arlene Lang on 4/14/2008

In America's childcare crisis, there is a not-so-new option gaining popularity with parents across the country, international au pairs. The firstl au pairs entered the country 20 years ago with J-1 visas the Department of State, granting them a one year stay as cultural exchange students. Since then, the government has granted over 150,000 visas.

Why is interest in au pairs as a childcare option growing suddenly? One reason may be contributing to recent inquiries: the ever-growing number of dual-working parent households across the country.

"A large majority of host families are referred by other host families," said David Fougere, Executive Vice President of au pair agency Cultural Care Au Pair. "When parents see the neighbor's children learning new languages and benefiting from cultural exchange, they want the same for their own children. And when they recognize the neighbor's peace of mind leaving the house each day, they want the same for themselves. Peace of mind is incredibly important as a parent and for many families that is what an au pair provides."

All au pairs must provide personal references, proof of previous childcare experience, and undergo a thorough criminal background check. Once an au pair is granted a J-1 visa, he or she is legally allowed to live in the United States for one year as an exchange student during which he or she must fulfill an educational requirement by taking classes at local universities or by volunteering.

Cultural Care Au Pair describes the ideal host family as flexible and ready to embrace a new family member. "The family should want to learn about her cultural traditions and make her feel like their home is her home too," said Fougere. "For most parents, au pairs seem like childcare for the wealthy, but in reality hosting an au pair is very affordable, especially if you have more than one child."

Local Childcare Coordinator Arlene Lang has seen growth in the program. During the past few years, her host families have grown form six to twenty! Families and their au pairs have all praised the experience and have passed the word on!

To learn more about the au pair program, please visit Cultural Care Au Pair online at www.culturalcare.com or call Arlene Lang, Local Childcare Coordinator at 303 948-2454. Visit her webpage at http://a-lang.local.culturalcare.com.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Arlene Lang

Buffalo Creek , CO

Arlene Lang has posted 22 stories and 0 comments since joining on 9/21/2007. Arlene Lang 's average story rating is 5.

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