Vicky Elkins’ Cultural Care Au Pair Site - Memphis

Recognize your aupair! Nominations due for 2010 IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award

Posted by: velkins on December 29, 2009

Every year thousands of young people from all over the world embark on a special journey by becoming an au pair. Now it’s time to recognize the extraordinary and ordinary daily accomplishments that each au pair makes in his or her host family by nominating your au pair for the International Au Pair Association’s

Francisco Ricardo Silva de Araújo of Brazil

seventh annual Au Pair of the Year Award.

The International Au Pair Association established the Au Pair of the Year Award to recognize the many great young men and women participating in the au pair program worldwide. In addition, the award helps highlight public awareness of this valuable cultural exchange program.

For the last two years, au pairs with Cultural Care have been honored with the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award. In 2009, the honor was awarded to Francisco Ricardo Silva de Araújo, of Brazil, an au pair to the Boyer family of Virginia. In 2008, Linda Falter, an au pair from Germany, received the award while she was an au pair for the Sato family of Hayward, California.

What makes your au pair outstanding?
Maybe it’s the day-to-day things he or she does, such as kicking around a soccer ball, helping the kids with homework or entertaining them while you cook dinner. Maybe it’s the way he or she has embraced your family, such as teaching your kids her language, baking treats from her home country or coming to watch your children in the winter program at school. Every thing your au pair does that helps your family or brings a rich cultural exchange into your family is worthy of recognition, and a great way of saying thank you to your au pair!

Host families who would like to nominate their au pair should submit an essay detailing what makes their au pair exceptional in the form provided. Nominations for the Au Pair of the Year Award must be received by Friday, January 15. Once you’ve submitted your nomination, don’t forget to share it with your au pair to show her or him how much you think of what she or he does for your family!

Simply nominating an au pair for the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award is a wonderful honor that can show your au pair how much you value what she or he does for your family. This award allows so many in the au pair community to reflect on what an incredibly positive program this is and the many lives it touches and enriches along the way.

For more information about the Au Pair of the Year Award or nominating your au pair please click here.

Educational Component Fact Sheet

Posted by: velkins on November 18, 2009

Fulfilling the Educational Component is mandatory for all au pairs, but it can be quite confusing to find out what classes qualify and how to find them in your area. It is really important that each au pair starts taking classes as soon as possible in the year to ensure a timely completion.
Please refer to the Educational Component section in Infosource for detailed information.
We have also created an Educational Component Fact Sheet that you can use as a reference when speaking to your au pairs and host families about this important part of the program.

Join our on-line Cultural Care Community!

Posted by: velkins on September 7, 2009

We are happy to announce an innovative on-line resource for host families, the Cultural Care Community. On our new site, families can ask a question, share an idea or “best practice” they use with their au pair, report a problem they are having or give praise. Cultural Care staff, LCCs and other host families can help answer your questions and join in the discussion. This new community is not meant to replace the customer service structure and systems that we already have in place, but rather to give host families a public forum to share with us and to connect with other families. Visit http://community.culturalcare.com , join the conversation and let us know what you think!

Culturalcare Aupair’s two new services for Host families

Posted by: velkins on April 5, 2008

I am very excited to announce the launch of two new services for host families: Welcome Baskets and Specialty Preparation Classes! So you can welcome your aupair with a wonderful gift.

Welcome Baskets
Host families can now purchase a customized Cultural Care Welcome Basket for their au pair to be delivered to the Training School in New York. All of our welcome packages include a New York City tour, a Cultural Care Training School Photo CD, snacks, Cultural Care gear and other popular au pair items. Families can add a personal greeting to their au pair and the basket will be waiting at the school for the au pair upon arrival. Au pairs are going to love all the fun, exciting and useful gifts in the Welcome Baskets and families have an easy, practical way to say “welcome” to their au pair!

Specialty Preparation Classes
Host families can now choose to enroll their au pair in Specialty Preparation Classes offered before the standard course at the Training School begins. Au pairs will arrive to the Cultural Care Training School a day early and have a full day of classes focused on a topic of the host family’s choice:

- Rules of the Road and Driving Practices
- Sharing Your Native Language with Children
- Caring for the School-Aged Child
- A Practical Introduction to the American Home

All classes include lectures and discussion, hands-on activities, in-class assignments and take-home manuals. This additional training in a specific area will help to help get their year together off to a great start!

Ordering and Deadlines
Ordering a Welcome Basket or enrolling an au pair in a Specialty Preparation Class is easy. Host families simply visit the new on-line store at http://store.family.culturalcare.com and select which basket or class they prefer. Welcome baskets must be ordered by the Thursday before their au pair’s arrival to the Cultural Care Au Pair Training School. The deadline to enroll their au pair in a Specialty Preparation Class is 12:00 noon EST on the day after the finaling deadline

Introduction of the E-Club

Posted by: velkins on March 1, 2007

Starting this June, all extension au pairs will automatically become a member of the E-Club.

Aupairs will be able to take advantage of special privileges and offers including a chance to win a $2,000 scholarship or a $200 host family referral bonus! E-Club members will also receive the Au Pair Advantage Card which gives them discounts on shows and movies and at great stores and restaurants.

The following au pairs are eligible:

• Au pairs completing the extension application on April 15th 2007 or later 

• Au pairs with an extension year start of June 4th 2007 or later 

Social Security Number

Posted by: velkins on January 1, 2007

To open a bank account you may need to get a social security number. Also your social security number will work as identification.

Once you arrive to your host family, you will receive a letter from the Boston office which you need to bring with your visa form (DS-2019), passport, and application form (fill out this form) with you to the Social Security office.

Local Social Security Office in Memphis:

3220 PLAYERS CLUB PKWY

MEMPHIS, TN 38125

Office Phone:

(800) 772-1213

(901) 746-6409

TTY: (901) 746-6507

If you click on attachments, you will find the Social security application form.

For more information go to the Web site of the social security administration that you can find on this link: http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html.

Tennessee Driving License

Posted by: velkins on December 31, 2006

The Tennessee Department of Safety began issuing a “Temporary Driver License” (TDL) on October 1, 2007 to foreign nationals residing in Tennessee whose legal, temporary presence has been authorized by the federal government. 

A representative of the TN Department of Safety stated that is legal to drive with the International driver licenses only for 30 days after the foreigner arrived. After that time, the foreigner must drive with the Temporary Driver Licenses. http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/driverlicense/tdl.htm

Why are the documents called “Temporary” Driver License and ID?The Driver License and ID are designated as “Temporary” because the expiration date will be the same as the expiration date of the foreign national’s authorized stay in the United States. 

Who is eligible for a TDL/ID?
Qualified applicants for a Tennessee Temporary Driver License or ID-only license must:

* Be a foreign national residing in Tennessee.
* Provide documentation from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services authorizing a temporary legal presence and specific period of authorized stay in the country.
* Provide two forms of proof of identity and two forms of Tennessee residency.
* Provide a social security number, if issued.
* Pass all required knowledge, skills and vision testing.
* Pay appropriate fees.

What specific documents are required for a TDL/ID?

Applicants will also need to provide the department with:

• Two (2) acceptable proof of identity documents. 
• Legal proof of name change (i.e. certified marriage certificate, certified final divorce decree, etc.) will be required if the name on the identification documents does not match the federal document used for proof of temporary legal presence.
• If the applicant wishes to have the Temporary Driver License issued in a name different that what appears on the federal documents proof confirming that the name change has already been submitted to the federal agency will also be required.
• Two (2) proofs of Tennessee residency.
• Proof of social security number (or sworn affidavit if no SSN has been issued).

How long is the TDL/ID valid?The Temporary DL and ID are valid for the same period of the applicant’s authorized stay in the U.S but no longer than 5 years, and if not defined, for one year.

How is the TDL renewed?
At time of renewal, an applicant must provide updated proof of legal presence and extension of authorized stay as well as current proof of Tennessee residency.

How much does a TDL/ID cost?In most cases, a TDL is $19.50 and an ID-only license is $9.50. 

Where can I apply for TDL/ID?Temporary DL/ID applicants must apply in person and complete any required testing at one of the 50 full-service driver license stations across the state.  Check the department’s website, www.tennessee.gov/safety, for the closest location and station hours.

What tests are required?First-time, or original, TDL applicants are required to pass a knowledge, road skills and vision test.  Exceptions exist if you have previously passed the testing requirements.  Tests are administered at all full-service driver license stations across the state. Since the ID-only license is not valid for driving, no tests are required for a Temporary ID.
 
What language is the driver license test given?The department offers the driver license knowledge test in English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.  Applicants may use a translation dictionary during the knowledge test, but interpreters are not allowed to assist with any part of the testing process.  During the road test, the applicant must speak and understand enough of the English language to communicate with the driver license examiner.

Driving Licenses Testing Center

• 6340 Summer Av.                   (901) 543-7920
• 3200 E. Shelby Dr.                   (901) 543-7920
• Mall of Memphis                       (901) 543-7920
• 5019 W Union Rd Mlngtn         (901) 874-0800

If you click on attachments, you will find the driving manual in English and Spanish, and a list of documents that you need to take in order to request your Certificate of driving in Tennessee.

For more information go to the Department of Safety Web site that you can find in my “Helpful Links”

Driving Schools in Memphis

Posted by: velkins on December 30, 2006

If you need to improve your driving skills, you may be interesting in attending to the follow driving schools:

Shelby County Driving School

(901) 872-7230

(Offers only private classes for adults $250 for 6hrs of driving classes. 2 hours for 3 days. Gives a certificate for passing the course)

Drivers Education Administration

(901) 327-0187

(Offers Adult driving classes $300 for 9 days of classes, 7 days behind-the-wheel-driving. Gives a certificate for passing the course)

Max Maxwell Driving School

Memphis, TN

(901) 755-6777

(Offers only private classes for adults $350 for 6hrs of driving classes. Gives a certificate for passing the course)

Driver’s Education Administration – Memphis - 327-0187

Driver’s Licenses Testing Centers – www.state.tn.us

Summer Ave. – 543-7920
E. Shelby Drive – 543-7920
Mall of Memphis – 543-7920
W. Union Rd. Millington – 874-0800

Most of these places provide private lessons, but in Collierville, I know that at the Parks and Rec Dept., they offer group classes three times a year (Oct., Jan., and May) which are less expensive.  The private lessons run about $45 an Hour for 6 hours total. ($270-up to $350) and offer books on rules and regulations and provide a certificate of completion upon passing a competency test and completing the workbook.

Educational Component

Posted by: velkins on December 29, 2006

The US State Department, which regulates the aupair programs, wants to ensure that you have an opportunity to study during your aupair year.

You must get at least six academic credits or the equivalent of 72 hours of class time if they are non-credited classes. In Memphis, most aupairs go to the University of Memphis and Southwest for English and computer classes.

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN 38152-3060 

(901) 678-2007

www.memphis.edu

Intensive English for Internationals

125 Patterson Hall

Memphis, TN 38152-3510

Phone: 901.678.2107

Fax: 901.678.2747

Email: iei@memphis.edu

http://iei.memphis.edu/contact2.shtml

(This College offers English Courses that are non- credit courses. They are not very expensive and most if our aupairs take these classes)

Continuing education non-credit course in the University of Memphis

http://www.coned.memphis.edu

Southwest Tennessee community College

Memphis, TN 38103-3322 

(901) 333-7822

Macon Cove Campus

5983 Macon Cove

Memphis, TN 38014

(901) 333-5000

www.southwest.tn.edu

(This College has campuses in different areas around Memphis. Check the Web site and see which one is closest to you. This College offers English as a Second Language Course. This is a course with credits, which make it very expensive. This college also offers non-credit courses in other areas go to:

http://www.southwest.tn.edu/ceed

University of Tennessee Memphis

Memphis, TN 38103-3400 

(901) 448-5500

http://www.utmem.edu

Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers University

650 E Pkwy S

Memphis, TN 38104-5568 

(901) 321-3000

http://www.cbu.edu

Rhodes College

2000 N Pkwy

Memphis, TN 38112-1690 

(901) 843-3000

http://www.rhodes.edu

University of Phoenix

Cordova, TN 38018

http://www.phoenix.edu/index.asp

You can find course information and schedules for each of these programs on the following websites:

Silver Bay: www.culturalcare.com/silverbay
C.W. Post: www.liu.edu/cwis/CWP/aupair
 

Travel Outside of the USA

Posted by: velkins on December 28, 2006

Before you travel out of United States, you need to check this information:

§         Check if a visa is needed for the country the aupair is traveling to www.embassyworld.com

§         Send DS-2019 to Cultural Care Aupair Boston for signature preferably 6 weeks before travel

§         Signature is recommended for travel also to Canada & Mexico

§         Bring passport with visa, signed DS2019 on trip, and I-94.

§         Don’t travel outside US during your 2nd year unless you have renewed visa in passport issued in your home country first. An exception for this requirement exists for Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands. Please contact Cultural Care Au Pair Operations at Toll free 1-800-448-5753 or Email us at aupair.operations@culturalcare.com for additional information