¤ Training and follow-up ¤

¤ Training and follow-up ¤

Before departure

Here is what provides the text of the U.S. Department State:

Au pair orientation. In addition to the orientation requirements set forth at §62.10, all sponsors shall provide au pairs, prior to their departure from the home country, with the following information : In addition to the Orient Requirements set forth at § 62.10, all sponsors shall "Provide the peer Prior To Their departure from The Home Country, With The followings information:


* (1) A copy of all operating procedures, rules, and regulations, including a grievance process, which govern the au pair's participation in the exchange program;
* (2) A detailed profile of the family and community in which the au pair will be placed;
* (3) A detailed profile of the educational institutions in the community where the au pair will be placed, including the financial cost of attendance at these institutions;
* (4) A detailed summary of travel arrangements;
* (5) A copy of the Department of State's written statement and brochure regarding the au pair program.

Thus, to prepare for departure, the agency must provide:

- The text of the au pair regulations
- A detailed profile of family and neighborhood
- A detailed profile of schools where you can track your progress
- Your flight information
- A copy of the regulations of the U.S. State Department click

The "profiles" do not always seem so detailed as that, but you can always ask your families!

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On arrival in the U.S. ...

Training

Here is what the U.S. State Department about this training:

Au pair training .

Au pair training. Sponsors shall provide the au pair participant with child development and child safety instruction, as follows:


* (1) Prior to placement with the host family, the au pair participant shall receive not less than eight hours of child safety instruction no less than 4 of which shall be infant-related

* (2) Prior to placement with the American host family, the au pair participant shall receive not less than twenty-four hours of child development instruction of which no less than 4 shall be devoted to specific training for children under the age of two .


In practice, agencies sometimes choose slightly different formulas.

Most agencies offer a placement of 4 to 5 days in New York. Sometimes the training is not done on NYC but in another city in the USA (Washington DC, San Francisco ...).
This trianing just so happens to your arrival in the U.S., then you end up with au pairs from around the world to spend a few days and training is in English.

Sometimes you are asked a little work before leaving, thereby shortening the training (Care Au Pair).

Sometimes DVDs to watch before departure replace this training.
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Local follow-up

Here is what the U.S. State Department for organizations:

Monitoring. Sponsors shall fully monitor all au pair exchanges , and at a minimum shall: Sponsors "shall monitor all au pair fully-Exchange, and at a minimum shall:

* (1) Require monthly personal contact by the local counselor with each au pair and host family for which the counselor is responsible.
* (2) Require quarterly contact by the regional counselor with each au pair and host family for which the counselor is responsible.
* (3) Require that all local and regional counselors are appraised of their obligation to report unusual or serious situations or incidents involving either the au pair or host family;
* (4) Promptly report to the Department of State any incidents involving or alleging a crime of moral turpitude or violence.

In practice, you have "meetings" with counselor monthly and au pairs in your region (the cluster).
Normally, the counselor should also call the foster parents every month to ensure everything goes smoothly. Many counselors do indeed, but unfortunately this is not always the case.

At monthly meetings, activities are varied: bowling, meals, museum, etc. etc..

In case of problems

If you have a problem there with the family or other problem, your first point of contact is your counselor.
Sometimes the counselors are not as effective as the agency would like. In this case, we must always remember to refer to a person over the counselor.

Turn:

If that does not go well with the family, in most cases, you can change your family. You are then rematch.