Vicky Elkins’ Cultural Care Au Pair Site - Memphis

Putting Kids First: helping at-risk children worldwide

Posted by: velkins on March 8, 2010

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s mission to break down barriers of culture and language through educational exchange, a group of local childcare coordinators and staff recently visited South Africa to see firsthand the difference the donations from the Cultural Care community have made through our charitable organization Kids First.

Since it’s inception in 2004, Kids First has supported many worldwide organizations that work with at-risk youth. From the daycare center in Brazil to the school library in New Orleans to an orphanage in Russia, Kids First has supported a wide range of global organizations. Our most recent work at an orphanage and daycare center in a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown, South Africa is another great example of the work we are doing worldwide.

Cultural Care staff and LCCs had an opportunity to visit several projects funded through CHOSA, an organization that Kids First supports. CHOSA provides support to programs that work with at-risk children and their families to provide nutrition, medication, clothing, food, shelter and an education.

During the service visit, those who participated had a chance to visit the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center, which helps 150 children, some of whom are HIV positive. Donations received from au pairs, host families and Cultural Care LCCs and staff have provided funds for the building of a new structure for the infants and toddlers in the center. The group from Cultural Care Au Pair had an opportunity to see the new structure, meet the inspirational director and dedicated teachers and had some time to play with the children.

In addition, the group visited the Ilitha-Labantwana Place of Safety, the Philani Child Health and Nutrition Project, the Emasithandane Children’s Project and the Baphumulele Children’s Home. The Cultural Care team is now bringing their experience back to the U.S. to raise awareness, and additional funds for even more projects that Kids First supports.

“Our Kids First trip to Cape Town was truly amazing and inspiring,” says Local Childcare Coordinator Trudy Mar. “The work, effort, love and sacrifice the women heading up these projects give to all of the kids goes well beyond what most of us could imagine. If one little body sleeps better, eats better and smiles more, we’ve helped to change their future and make the world a better place. Every dollar we raise for Kids First definitely does make a difference.”

For information about how you can make a contribution to Kids First, or raise awareness for the programs it supports, visit http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/ or contact your Local Childcare Coordinator.

The results are in!

Posted by: velkins on February 7, 2010

The results from the 2009 Host Family Survey are in … and the consensus is that our host families are overwhelmingly happy! To share a few of the stats:

- 96% of host families are satisfied with the quality of childcare that their au pair provides
- 95% are satisfied with the support provided by their Local Childcare Coordinator
- 97% are pleased with the choice they made to use the services of Cultural Care Au Pair
- 96% would recommend the services of Cultural Care Au Pair to other families

Thank you to our current host families for participating and for helping us to further improve our program! Host family feedback gathered through our customer satisfaction survey has contributed to several changes at Cultural Care Au Pair including an improved host family and au pair matching process, increased new and repeat host family discounts, new payment plan options, and better online and phone support for host families. In addition, host families are able to provide direct feedback to senior management at face to face meetings held throughout the country, and they may participate in an online forum (www.community.culturalcare.com) created just for program participants.

We’re thrilled with these results, which are certified by independent survey company Discovery Surveys, Inc. In fact, our participation rate (52% of active host families this time around) and the results themselves have improved each of the four times we have administered the surveys (spring and fall of 2008 and spring and fall of 2009). For more detailed survey information, visit our website.

Finding the perfect au pair made easy

Posted by: velkins on January 15, 2010

Cultural Care Au Pair offers 3 Ways to Match
Cultural Care Au Pair host families now have the ability to review even more applications and au pair profiles with our new 3 Ways to Match, a program feature that let’s host families select the style of matching that best suits their needs. Host families can now search through multiple candidates on their own timeframe, set an appointment for a consultative matching session or work one-on-one with a placement manager who carefully selects possible matches. Best of all, our 3 Ways to Match allows you to enjoy the benefits of all three matching styles to help you find the right au pair for your family.

To get started
Whether you’re a new family to Cultural Care Au Pair or have already hosted an au pair, our 3 Ways to Match makes it easy for you to begin reviewing au pair candidates right away. Simply fill out your new or repeat application. Once it’s processed, you can log into your account and begin matching. Here’s how it works:

Personalized, exclusive matching
Enjoy the benefits of our trademark one-on-one matching. Your placement manager will select carefully screened applications for you to review based on your family’s unique needs. Each au pair is exclusively reserved for your family’s review, which means no two families are contacting the same reserved au pair candidate at the same time.

Consultative matching
Review our pool of au pair candidates in real time by setting up a consultative matching appointment by phone with your placement manager. This highly effective method allows you to carve out time with your placement manager to review available candidates who are not being reviewed by other families. At the end of the appointment, you have the opportunity to have up to three candidates maximum reserved for your family exclusively.

Search & Select
An enhancement to our current profile review system, this new feature offers families the ability to build a list of au pair profiles available for review. Families can narrow the search field and request, for example, a driver, a second year au pair or someone available now. If you find a candidate of interest to you, you may add the au pair to your list and notify your placement manager of your interest by clicking the Notify Placement Manager button. Your placement manager will review your suggested matches and place up to three of those matches into your host family account for further review of their full application.

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.

The Benefits of Cultural Care Aupair

Posted by: velkins on May 2, 2007

Top Ten Reasons to Choose Cultural Care

1. One-to-One Matching

We select applicants who are compatible with a host family’s personality, lifestyle and childcare needs. All host families review applications online through their Extranet account to ensure accurate, efficient service. 

2. Highest Quality Customer Service

LCCs and staff are there for each host family and au pair at every point throughout their year. LCCs are always on-hand to offer support and advice and to create a local community of host families and au pairs. We believe that continued trainings and support of our LCCs will help us maintain the highest quality program.

3. Peace of Mind

With over 15 years of experience, Cultural Care Au Pair is one of the largest and most trusted au pair programs. Families can rely on our organization to assist them throughout the application process and during their year. A host family’s main responsibility is to choose their au pair and welcome her/him into their home. We do the rest from arranging their au pair’s flight to the U.S. to coordinating transitions and transportation should a host family and au pair end their year together early.

4. Cultural Care Au Pair Training School at St. John’s University

Cultural Care teachers not only prepare au pairs according to the U.S. Department of State guidelines but also provide a warm and welcoming environment for au pairs upon arrival to the U.S. Our small class sizes and campus setting allow au pairs to learn, overcome homesickness, and prepare for arrival to their host families.

5. Continuing Education Program

Because we are committed to the on-going education of au pairs, Cultural Care Au Pair has developed four seasonal units devoted to childcare safety and accident prevention to supplement the training at the Au Pair Training School. These trainings are packaged and made available on your LCC Extranet in your “Events in a Box” section under the “Marketing” tab.

6. Host Family Handbook, Daily Communication Log, and Household Handbook

Effective tools in communication, these handbooks provide essential pre-departure information and address topics such as expectations and instruction on childcare. The online Household Handbook allows families to provide information specific to their family and household for their au pair.

7. Male Au Pairs

Cultural Care Au Pair remains one of the few agencies to recruit qualified male candidates to fulfill our host families’ needs for experienced male au pairs. Why should families consider hosting a male au pair? They are energetic and experienced childcare providers with a sincere interest in being a “big brother” to children.

8. Over 35 Recruitment Countries and Growing

Currently in over 35 countries, Cultural Care continues to offer host families exposure to new and exciting cultures ranging from Europe to Latin America, Australia to South Africa. Utilizing our experienced network allows Cultural Care Au Pair to have our own offices in many of the countries we recruit from, and our recruitment headquarters in Luzerne ensures that all our offices and agents adhere to our high standards.

9. Kids First

Dedicated to improving the lives of children around the world, Cultural Care Au Pair has supported a number of organizations important to our host families such as the March of Dimes, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Toys for Tots, and UNICEF. We have also concentrated our charitable efforts in the last several years to support Orphanage #63 which is home to almost 60 Russian orphans with little hope for adoption. In the future, we will extend our reach by supporting new projects around the world.

10. Corporate and Local Offices

To support our host families across the U.S., Cultural Care Au Pair has a main office with centralized services in Boston, MA, and local field offices for Placement Managers, Program Directors and Regional Development Directors across the country to provide a valuable regional perspective.

Kids First

Posted by: velkins on May 1, 2007

It’s not just our business, it’s our way of life. Kids First, established in 1997, is our national campaign to support charities that advocate for children in the U.S. and around the world.

Full Year Program

Posted by: velkins on March 20, 2007

Our full year program allows your family to host an au pair for 12 months.

You’ll receive flexible live-in childcare and experience the rewards of cultural exchange through a trusted organization with more than 15 years of experience. Our program fee includes recruitment, screening and pre-departure preparation for your au pair; your au pair’s training at the Cultural Care Au Pair Training School upon arrival in the U.S.; host family and au pair orientations; international airfare; a full year of medical and travel insurance; training materials; and yearlong support from the Cultural Care Au Pair office staff and your local childcare coordinator, including 24 hour emergency on call staff.

Summer Aupair Program

Posted by: velkins on March 19, 2007

Enjoy an extra set of hands during the summer and coordination of all your children’s activities such as sports camps, swimming lessons and play dates.

Cultural Care Summer Au Pair is our most recent program offering designed to meet the demands of busy, working parents. Our summer au pair program delivers the same cultural exchange opportunity and meets the same high-quality standards as our trusted, yearlong program.

How the program works

Summer au pairs provide up to 45 hours per week of childcare for up to 3 ½ months during the summer for children ages 2 years and older.

Summer au pairs participate in the same careful screening process and are subject to the same regulations as au pairs in the full-year program. Au pairs and host families are matched through the same personalized, one-to-one matching process and receive the same superior customer service support as yearlong participants.

Summer au pairs receive a week of intensive child safety education at our Au Pair Training School. Their specially designed additional course work while at the school plus a take home project fulfill the U.S. Department of State educational component with no additional cost to our host families. This gives au pairs more time and flexibility once they arrive at your home.

Apply now: It’s never been easier!

The cost of hosting a Cultural Care Summer au pair is about $7 per hour—an affordable alternative to a nanny, daycare or camp. 

For more information contact Local Childcare Coordinator, Vicky Elkins at (901) 268-2449

Extension Program

Posted by: velkins on March 18, 2007

Your family now has the opportunity to keep your au pair for up to an additional 12 months!

Program Costs

Posted by: velkins on February 1, 2007

Cultural Care Au Pair is one of the most affordable childcare options available. Regardless of the number of children in your family, the average weekly cost is just $285, regardless of the number of children you have at home.

Please click on the link, so you can find detailed information about the cost of our aupair program.

http://www.culturalcare.com/hostfamilies/programcosts/default.aspx