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Be an Au Pair > 3 Steps to become an Au Pair > Experience

Top 5 Questions
from new Au Pairs

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1. Can Au Pairs travel internationally?
2. Can I be an Au Pair with more than one family at the same time?
3. Can I care for special needs children?
4. Can I get an additional job while in the U.S.?
5. Do I have to clean the house or do other domestic duties?

Request Information

Experience

Go Au Pair makes sure you have everything you need to have a great year with your Host Family. Our Local Area Representatives are always within an hour from your home and are ready to help with any question you may have.

Living in another country and speaking another language can be a challenging adventure; however, with the help of Go Au Pair, you can be assured all your needs are taken care of. Go Au Pair takes care of your health insurance so you don’t have to worry about finding coverage or expensive premiums. We also are here to help with any questions regarding driving, education and anything else you may need.

Arrival and Orientation

Your Au Pair experience begins with a meeting between you, your Host Family and your Local Area Representative. During the Au Pair and Host Family orientation, you and your Host Family review house rules, responsibilities, schedules and child care expectations. This meeting is a great time to get to know your Host Parent and their style of parenting. Your Local Area Representative will also be there to help answer any questions about rules of the Au Pair program and to help you get accustomed to your new adventure.

Host Family Duties and Responsibilities

Your Host Family provides you with full room and board. You will have a private bedroom and your Local Area Representative verifies your room conditions meet or exceed Go Au Pair’s strict standards before you arrive. Your Host Family also provides you with food just as if you were a member of their own family.

Your Host Family is also responsible for providing you with two weeks of paid vacation. You can take your vacation at a time both you and your Host Family agree upon after your arrival.

Salary and Work Hours

As an Au Pair America, you provide up to 45* hours of child care each week with a maximum of 10 hours per day. Your Host Family pays your weekly stipend directly to you. The stipend amount is based on federal minimum wage. Currently the stipend is $195.75 per week. The stipend you receive depends on the Au Pair program in which you participate. You also receive a minimum of 1 ½ days off each week and one full weekend off (Friday night to Monday morning) at least once every month.

Due to school and work schedules, your Host Family may need to change your work hours on a fairly regular basis. It is normal for work schedules to change and is something you should expect. However, even if the schedule is different each week, you are not allowed to work more than the maximum hours allowed by the U.S. Department of State.

Au Pair Duties and Responsibilities

Being an Au Pair means you are part of your Host Family. You have the chance to provide morning, before and after school and evening help. In addition to care and supervision of your Host Family’s children, you also help with household chores pertaining to the children for whom you care. You make a meaningful contribution by helping with some of the following items.

• Driving
• Clean up after snack time
• Bath time
• Prepare and clean up after children’s meals
• Homework help
• Driving to and pickup from school, after school sports, dance, other activities
• Teaching, tutoring
• Cultural sharing, language instruction
• Game time
• Kids laundry, ironing
• Arts and crafts time
• Musical support
• Making kids bed, tidying up room
• Outside play time
• Reading time at home, at the local library
• Getting ready for school in the morning, packing lunches, backpacks
• Visit zoos, museums, parks, more
• Sick day help, doctor visits
• Potty training help
• Nap time
• Teach good behavior
• Swimming, skiing
• Play dates
• Birthdays, holidays
• And more!

Although you may want to help with extra things around the home, keep in mind Au Pairs cannot do the following:

• Grocery shopping for the family
• Walking the dog or care of other animals
• Provide care for neighbor’s children
• Cook for the entire family
• Do the entire family’s laundry
• Clean areas of the home other than children’s living and playing areas
• Administer medicine
• Any tasks not directly related to the care of the children

Education

You have the great opportunity to further your education and make new friends while fulfilling your educational requirement. As part of your cultural child care experience, you have the opportunity to take a number of credits at a U.S. university. Your Host Family contributes up to $500** towards your educational requirement and facilitates transportation to and from your classes.

You have the option to study any subject you would like, so long as it is at an accredited, post-secondary university. Go Au Pair provides you with a list of schools in your area shortly after you arrive so you can enroll in your classes right away.

Au Pair Support

Prior to arriving to your Host Family’s home, you enjoy support from your International Representative and Go Au Pair. When you arrive, you have a many resources available to you. Your Local Area Representative and Go Au Pair are available to answer any questions and assist in all your needs.

Local Area Representative

During your year, you have the support from one of our experienced Local Area Representatives. Each Local Area Representative lives within your community, so support is never far away.

While you may contact Go Au Pair’s corporate office at any time, your Local Area Representative contacts you every month to ensure things are going well. Your Local Area Representative also supports you in the following ways:

• Contact you within 48 hours of your arrival to your Host Family
• Conduct an arrival orientation with you and your Host Family to ensure a great year
• Maintain monthly contact with you and your Host Family
• Provide you with the resources you need to live in your community
• Provide you with information about educational and social opportunities
• Organize and host regular activities and outings for all the Au Pairs in your community
• Organize and host events for Host Families and Au Pairs in your community

Corporate Support

Our friendly staff at our corporate office is always ready to help. Whether you have questions about education, rules and regulations or anything else, we find the answer for you. Go Au Pair also maintains regular communication with you so you are always up to date regarding Au Pair program information and local events.

International Representative

In addition to your Local Area Representatives and Go Au Pair’s corporate support, you always have access to support from your International Representative. Your international Representative is instrumental in helping you apply for the Au Pair program, prepare for your embassy interview and organize yourself for your year in the United States.