¤ Conditions of welcome in host families ¤

¤ Conditions of welcome in host families ¤

Arrival in the family ...

Here is what the U.S. State Department:

Au pair placement.
Sponsors shall secure, prior to the au pair's departure from the home country, a host family placement for each participant. Sponsors shall not :

* (1) Place an au pair with a family unless the family has specifically agreed that a parent or other responsible adult will remain in the home for the first three days following the au pair's arrival;

* (2) Place an au pair with a family having a child aged less than three months unless a parent or other responsible adult is present in the home;

* (3) Place an au pair with a host family having children under the age of two, unless the au pair has at least 200 hours of documented infant child care experience . An au pair participating in the EduCare program shall not be placed with a family having pre-school children in the home unless alternative full-time arrangements for the supervision of such pre-school children are in place;


* (4) Place an au pair with a host family having a special needs child , as so identified by the host family, unless the au pair has specifically identified his or her prior experience, skills, or training in the care of special needs children and the host family has reviewed and acknowledged in writing the au pair's prior experience, skills, or training so identified;

* (5) Place an au pair with a host family unless a written agreement between the au pair and the host family detailing the au pair's obligation to provide child care has been signed by both the au pair and the host family prior to the au pair's departure from his or her home country . Such agreement shall clearly state whether the au pair is an EduCare program participant or not. Such agreement shall limit the obligation to provide child care services to not more than 10 hours per day or more than 45 hours per week unless the au pair is an EduCare participant . Such agreement shall limit the obligation of an EduCare participant to provide child care service to not more than 10 hours per day or more than 30 hours per week.

* (6) Place the au pair with a family who cannot provide the au pair with a suitable private bedroom.

* (7) Place an au pair with a host family unless the host family has interviewed the au pair by telephone prior to the au pair's departure from his or her home country.

So you are welcomed into a family where you have your own room. Parents must stay with you the first three days of arrival, and they have a child under 3 months.