NW Kids Magazine recently featured CHI Au Pair USA in a wonderful article highlighting the benefits of the Au Pair program!
Article taken from NW Kids Magazine:
“My family recently spent a week with a cousin’s family who had just had an au pair living with them for more than a year. They absolutely LOVED the au pair (who was French) and having her live with them was a working mama’s dream come true. The experience sounded so fabulous I had to look into it for myself.
For one thing, an au pair is relatively inexpensive. The average direct au pair program cost is approximately $316 per week for the family. Locally, Cultural Homestay International (CHI) Au Pair service is coordinated by Liz Phillips. CHI is a nonprofit, educational organization. For the summer of 2009, CHI in response to the economic downturn, is offering a $1 application special, and CHI will offer the same 2008 program fees for host families that sign up now.
An au pair differs from a nanny in several ways. Not only does she live with the host family, but also with the European tradition of “working together as a pair,” families treat the au pair as an equal member of the family, unlike a nanny or other childcare providers who are considered outside employees.
According to CHI, hosting an au pair is a rewarding and enriching cultural experience for the entire family. For 12 months, you and your children will have the opportunity to intimately experience a person of another culture in your own home. Your family’s view of the world will expand through the au pair’s sharing of her own language and customs. In addition, you and your family will share your own culture and customs with your au pair.”
CHI assures parents that its au pairs all go through a thorough screening process, including personal interviews, previous childcare experience, psychometric testing, criminal background checks and confirmed character reference checks. CHI maintains a highly qualified network of regional and local staff to support families throughout the program year.
