Amy Bryan, Local Childcare Coordinator

Cultural Care Au Pair’s 2009 Au Pair of the Year in the news!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 30, 2009

I came across the following article about our latest Au Pair of the Year today.  What terrific au pairs we have in our organization!

This article is from Focus on Travel News.

Host Family Surveys — Please complete by APRIL 10th!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 30, 2009

I hope you have all received the link to complete your Host Family Survey.  Cultural Care really wants your feedback, so we have extended the deadline to complete them to Friday, 10 April. I hope you will take a few minutes out of your busy day to read this, and then to complete the survey.   If you did not receive it, please let me know and I will make sure you get one.  Please also check your spam box to make sure it did not get sent there instead!   As an organization, we strive to provide the best customer service in the industry.  We have implemented the following as a direct result of our past surveys:

• Host family “Infosource” - An online information resource giving host families extensive program information at their fingertips through their online accounts
• Online payment center - Access to account information including the ability to make payments, print statements and select payment plans from the convenience of their own computer at any time of day or night
• Consultative matching sessions - The opportunity during our one-to-one matching process to review multiple au pair applications in consultation with a placement manager to find the best candidate
• Weekend office hours for matching support - Providing families with the placement support they need during times when they are most available
• “Repeat Rewards Program” - Cultural Care Au Pair’s expanded package of benefits for repeating families
• “Peace of Mind Guarantee” - An attractive financial safeguard program offering options for families who suffer a job loss

If you’re new to the program, let us know how we’re doing so far!  If you’re a veteran family, let us know what other improvements you think would be helpful for the future, whether you plan to continue with our program or not.  If you did it the last time, your input is still valuable — your situation may have changed since the last time the survey was released, so you may have important opinions to pass along in light of this!   It is also important for me to hear feedback on how I’m doing.  I take my role as your LCC very seriously, and it’s extremely helpful for me to know what I’m doing well, and what I need to work on to serve YOU and your au pairs the best I can!  Your participation is a direct reflection of my performance and I value your opinions (and yes, I DO take the time to read them! :-)  I have been trying to make improvements as I have become more comfortable in my LCC role, including updating my new website with valuable information for host families and au pairs, scheduling au pair meetings and make-ups far in advance to allow everyone to plan to attend them, providing Welcome Packs full of information to new au pairs and host families and continuing to provide prompt responses to emails or phone calls.  In addition, I have been taking a more active role in the matching and transition process to offer my advice and support to you, as well as the Placement Team.

By completing the survey, you are automatically entered into a drawing where two families will win either a $1000 future program fee discount or a $1000 American Express gift card…who couldn’t use an extra $1000 these days???  I would try for it if I was eligible!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me — I’ll be happy to help!

Thanks to all of you for being such a great group of families to work with and for supporting the wonderful cultural exchange experience that the au pair program can provide.

University of Delaware International Film Series

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 27, 2009

The English Department at the University of Delaware, along with the Committee on Cultural Activities and Public Events, is again offering its International Film Series.  Screenings are FREE and open to the public.  Films are shown on Sundays at 7:30 pm in the Trabant University Center Theater, located in downtown Newark on campus.  (The theater is downstairs in the center, not on the main level.  Follow the signs inside!)

The series is taking a few weeks off for spring break, but will resume again on Sunday, April 5th.  The schedule for the rest of the semester can be found by clicking the link in the previous paragraph.  There is also a link under “Arts & Entertainment” in the right sidebar.

All movies are shown with English subtitles.

Cultural Care Au Pair offers peace of mind to host families

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 27, 2009

Cultural Care Au Pair offers the most extensive protection against an uncertain economic climate. With our Peace of Mind guarantee, families receive a financial safeguard against an unexpected job loss. Cultural Care Au Pair has listened to our host families and, in response, have developed the Cultural Care Au Pair exclusive Peace of Mind Guarantee.

Our Peace of Mind Guarantee protects our host families in three ways:

1. Price guarantee - we know that families are most concerned about the quality of our program but in these uncertain times, affordability is also an important factor. We have committed to keeping our prices stable for the entirety of 2009. While other au pair agencies are increasing prices, you know that with Cultural Care you have a price guarantee. Cultural Care Au Pair continues to deliver the highest quality program at the most affordable price.
2. Program continuation guarantee - we understand that if a parent suffers an involuntary job loss, the main priority of that parent will be to secure a new job. Throughout this process, the family will need reliable childcare. In addition, it is always Cultural Care Au Pair’s goal to maintain the stability of the au pair/host family relationship. For these reasons, we will offer those families who suffer an involuntary job loss the opportunity to receive the standard contractual refund and to keep their au pair until the end of her program term.
3. Financial safeguard guarantee - in the event that a family is forced to make the decision to withdraw from the program as a result of an involuntary job loss, Cultural Care will refund the unused portion of their program fees. Cultural Care will then make every reasonable effort to replace the au pair with a new family so she may complete her program term.

Peace of Mind is essential these days and while other agencies may offer one or two of the above options, only Cultural Care protects you in all three of these important ways. Families who apply or re-apply on or after March 1, 2009 are eligible for this new program. Some terms and conditions apply.

Current Discounts for Host Families!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 27, 2009

It doesn’t matter whether your family is new to Cultural Care, has been with us for a few or several years, or is joining from a competitor agency — we have discounts for everyone to help you save a few pennies during these difficult economic times!

The following are discounts we are currently offering to families.  Contact me if you have any further questions!

Spring Savings - save $500!
Cultural Care Au Pair is offering a $500 savings on our program. Families who apply by April 15th are entitled to a $350 application fee waiver AND a $150 program fee discount! To qualify, families must be new to Cultural Care Au Pair, apply between March 1, 2009 and April 15, 2009 and welcome an au pair into their home by October 23, 2009. Promotion code: PCSPR2009

“Repeat with us” and save up to $1,000!
We welcome families from other au pair agencies to repeat with us. As a family experienced with the au pair program, host families who switch to Cultural Care Au Pair are entitled to $1,000 in savings! These savings include a $350 application fee waiver, a $500 program fee discount and free overseas connections (a $150 value). Please call 1-800-333-6056 and select option 2 to receive the promotion code. Families must submit proof of payment of their agency’s program fees (proof of payment of application fee does not qualify). The $500 program fee savings will be applied upon receipt of proof of payment.

$300 Pre-Arranged Match Discount
Families who find their own future au pair are entitled to a $300 program fee discount. The candidate must meet Cultural Care Au Pair’s screening requirements and must complete the Screening & Orientation Day in the appropriate recruitment country. Total savings cannot exceed $650. No promotion code necessary: savings will be applied upon approval of candidate.

Repeat Families: Save up to $2,000 in Repeat Rewards!
Families who extend with their current au pair are entitled to a $350 application fee waiver and up to $1,650 in program fee savings. Total savings = up to $2,000! Families who re-apply to host another Cultural Care au pair are entitled to a $350 application fee waiver, a $250 “price guarantee” discount, and complimentary overseas connection service ($150 value). Families who apply early enough can earn an additional $250 early matching bonus! Total savings = up to $1,000! For an early matching bonus deadline chart, visit the Host Family InfoSource. No promotion code necessary; discounts are applied automatically.

$150 Host Family Referral Discount
Current families will receive a $150 program fee discount for each new family referred to our program who welcomes an au pair into their home by October 23, 2009.

Traveling Outside the U.S. — Your Questions Answered!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 23, 2009

Please read the following information very carefully.  It is YOUR responsibility to take care of obtaining any paperwork (including tourist visas, if necessary) prior to your trip!!!  If you have any questions about anything below, please relay your questions to Cultural Care’s home office, as they are more able to answer accurately.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION APPLIES TO FIRST-YEAR AU PAIRS:

Au pairs are allowed to travel outside of the U.S. during their 12 month stay.  In order to assure re-entry into the U.S., the au pair must send in her DS-2019 form to Cultural Care to have the Travel Validation box signed by a Responsible Officer.  The au pair should include a note indicating the dates of departure, as well as a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The au pair should allow 3-4 weeks for processing. If the au pair sends in the DS-2019 form less than 3 weeks before travel, a Federal Express envelope or a self-addressed USPS priority mail envelope should be used. The au pair should also include a pre-paid return Federal Express envelope or USPS priority mail envelope so that the signed DS-2019 form is returned promptly. If no pre-paid envelope is enclosed, there will be a 10USD for sending a DS-2019 form by Federal Express within the US, and 20USD for sending overseas. The au pair may pay by check or credit card.

The DS-2019 form should be sent to:

Cultural Care Au Pair
Attn: Travel Validation
One Education Street
Cambridge, MA 02141

Please note! We do not recommend traveling outside of the US during the last 2 months of the year. While technically the au pair has a valid visa and should not have any problems getting back into the country, sometimes immigration officers question why the au pair traveled outside of the country so close to the expiration date of her visa.

Previously, au pairs did not need to send the DS-2019 form in if they were traveling to Canada or Mexico. While this has not changed, some au pairs have had trouble at the border because the form was not signed. Therefore, it is advisable that all au pairs send in the DS-2019 form, even when traveling to Canada or Mexico. Many Non-Western European au pairs are required to obtain a tourist visa to visit Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Au pairs should contact the closest embassy of their destination country for information and visa applications. Please visit www.embassyworld.com for the closest embassy or consulate. If an au pair travels without the appropriate documents, she may be denied re-entry into the U.S. and may be prohibited from boarding the plane!  It is the responsibility of each au pair to check to see if a tourist visa is required for the country he/she is visiting.

• Travel outside of the U.S. during the au pair’s 13^th month is not permitted by the J-1 visa.  If an au pair leaves the continental U.S. during this month, she will not be allowed to re-enter the U.S. Cultural Care has no authority in this case. The only exception to this rule is travel to Hawaii. Au pairs may travel to Hawaii in their 13^th month

Q: What if the dates on the au pair’s visa are different than the au pair’s actual arrival into the country?

A: Often the issue date on the visa will be a few weeks earlier/later than the au pair’s actual arrival date into the U.S. This not a problem, as the au pair’s legal stay in the country is determined by the dates on the DS-2019 form (which is stamped with the actual entry date), not the visa. However, travel in and out of the United States is determined by the dates on the visa, not the DS-2019 form.

Q: What if the au pair needs to leave the U.S. immediately due to an emergency?

A: Advise the au pair to overnight the DS-2019 form to Boston with the dates of her trip, as well as her address and telephone number in her home country.  A Responsible Officer will sign the DS form and FedEx it to the au pair in her home country so she has it in time to return to the U.S.

Q: What happens if an au pair travels outside of the U.S. without her/his DS-2019 form?

A: The au pair will most likely be allowed back into the U.S., but her visa status will be changed to a 30-day tourist visa. She will be given the form I-515A by the immigration officer at the port of entry. She will need to complete this form and send it along with her original DS-2019 form and her original I-94 card to U.S. Customs and Immigration Services. This process usually takes approximately 4-6 weeks. The au pair should always contact the Boston office if they traveled without the DS-2019 form and have received the form I-515A.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION APPLIES TO EXTENSION AU PAIRS:

Extension au pairs will receive a new DS-2019 Form for their extension term. Their program is extended and they are legally in the US to work as an au pair for another 6, 9 or 12 months.

They will not automatically receive a new J1 visa for their extension term. They will have to apply for it at the US Embassy in their home country. But they do not need a new J1 visa for their extension term to extend.

If you have any questions concerning this information, please call Cultural Care Au Pair Operations at 1-800-448-5753 or email us at aupair.operations@culturalcare.com

Extension au pairs may travel to their home country during the second year
Embassy posts around the world have been informed about the second year extension program for au pair participants:

• An extension au pair wishing to travel to her/his home country and to return to the United States must have her/his J-1 visa renewed while at home before attempting to resume participation in the program in the United States. An au pair who does not renew her/his J-1 visa risks not being allowed to reenter the United States to continue on the program.
• Au pairs and host families should be aware that it can sometimes take six to eight weeks to obtain an appointment to renew a J-1 visa at U.S. embassies around the world. Au pairs must schedule appointments for J-1 visa renewals well in advance of their travel dates as waiting times for appointments vary greatly depending on time of year and demand at specific U.S. embassy posts. Cultural Care recommends contacting the U.S. embassy no later than six to eight weeks before traveling home. Contact information for U.S. Embassies abroad can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov/.
• Cultural Care Au Pair is not able to book appointments at the U.S. embassy on the au pair’s behalf and has no ability to affect scheduling appointments at the U.S. embassy in any way.
• Cultural Care Au Pair cannot guarantee the renewal of a J-1 visa. Although an au pair has been approved by the U.S. Department of State to participate in the extension program, the decision to renew the visa is at the discretion of the consular officer who interviews the au pair.

Extension au pairs must have all necessary documentation and paperwork to renew J-1 visas
In order to renew the J-1 visa, an extension au pair must bring the proper documentation with her/him to the U.S. embassy in her/his home country.

• An extension au pair wishing to renew the J-1 visa must bring her/his passport and the original copy of the DS-2019 form renewed by Cultural Care Au Pair at the time of enrollment in the second year extension program. The DS-2019 form will reflect the dates of the au pair’s second year. Cultural Care Au Pair will also provide the au pair with a letter of good standing and a copy of the U.S. Department of State cable regarding the second year extension program.
• In addition, au pairs will need to complete and bring forms DS156 and DS158. Male au pairs have to complete a third form as well; form DS157. Form DS156 can be filled out online and then printed. It is available at http://evisaforms.state.gov/. Forms DS157 and DS158 are available to be downloaded and printed at http://www.visapro.com/Department-State-Forms.asp.
• There is a non-refundable fee of USD131 to apply for the second J-1 visa. The fee is paid directly to the embassy and the au pair is responsible for covering this cost.
• It is the au pair’s responsibility to inquire with the U.S .Embassy in their home country to see if other forms are needed. It may be necessary for the au pair to bring a copy of her/his host family application, school diplomas or bank statements.

Cultural Care will not be responsible for any costs incurred by a visa denial or visa delay, and host families could be subject to breaks in childcare due to the renewal process.

Travel advisory for second year extension au pairs and host families

• International travel to countries other than an extension au pair’s home country is limited unless the extension au pair completes the J-1 visa renewal process in her/his home country first. If an au pair fails to complete the J-1 visa renewal process before traveling internationally to a country other than her/his home country, she/he will most likely be denied reentry to the United States. An exception for this requirement exists for Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands. Please see the section below on travel to those countries.
• Au pairs traveling to their home countries at the end of their first year may experience difficulty in returning to the United States. The airlines carefully review visas and visa expiration dates for U.S. bound passengers, and airline officials will not take any risks as they may be penalized with substantial fines if they allow someone to fly to the U.S. who does not have a proper visa. Consequently, even if the visa dates in the au pairs’ passport are still valid, airlines are likely to deny boarding to anyone whose visa is close to expiring. To address this, Cultural Care Au Pair advises all extension au pairs returning home within 30 days of the end of their first year to complete the J-1 visa renewal process before attempting to return to the au pair program in the United States.

Travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean in the second year
Travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean (except Cuba) for fewer than thirty days is allowed, even with an expired J-1 visa in your passport. This is known as “visa revalidation.” The following conditions must apply in order for you to travel to these countries:

• You must have an unexpired I-94 card indicating your J-1 status in your passport when you enter the U.S. Do not surrender the I-94 card when you leave the U.S. If you do, you will not be eligible for visa revalidation.
• You must have your DS-2019 form with your extension program dates.
• You must have a passport valid at least six months into the future on the day you return to the U.S.
• You should contact the Cultural Care Operations Department for a copy of the visa revalidation regulation.
• You can travel only to one of the destinations named above and for fewer than thirty days. For example, you cannot use automatic revalidation to enter Canada, depart to another country, return to Canada, and then return to the U.S. within 30 days.
• ·You cannot apply to renew your J-1 visa while in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. If you apply for the J-1 visa during your visit to one of these destinations, you must wait for it to be issued before you return. If your visa application is denied by the American consulate, you are not allowed to use automatic revalidation to return to the U.S. You will be required to travel to your country of citizenship to apply for a new visa.
• You must have a J-1 visa (expired or valid) in your passport. If you lost your passport during your first year and had it replaced, you will not have the J-1 visa in that new passport and therefore cannot take advantage of travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.
• If you are a citizen of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, North Korea, Cuba, or Libya you are not eligible for visa revalidation. If you are a national of one of the above countries, you must always have a valid visa in your passport to enter the United States.
• You may be required to have a tourist visa to enter a foreign country. The visa you have for the United States does not automatically grant entry into these countries. We recommend that you check with the consulate of the country you are visiting before you travel. Below are the commonly requested Canadian and Mexican consulate websites: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp or http://www.sre.gob.mx/boston/ (click on visas/tourist visa and information will be in English)
• The decision to allow an au pair back into the U.S. is at the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry. Cultural Care cannot guarantee reentry into the United States and will not be responsible for any costs incurred due to reentry problems.

Discounted CPR and First Aid Trainings from the Delmarva Red Cross

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 18, 2009

From this morning’s Wilmington News Journal:

Delmarva Red Cross Offers Discount Training

The American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula is offering basic certification classes at a 50 percent discount this month.

Training is available in first aid, CPR and use of an automated external defibrillator.

Costs range from $20 to $32.

The discount does not apply to babysitter training, professional rescuer, instructor training or recertification.

View a full schedule of classes and sign up at www.redcrossdelmarva.org or call 656-6620 ext. 2.

March is national Red Cross month.

If your au pair would like to pursue certification (or you would like for him / her to be certified), this is a good time to register them for a class!

The American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula serves the entire state of Delaware, as well as Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

March Make-Up Meeting Reminder

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 15, 2009

There will be a “second chance” make-up meeting for any au pair who missed us at the Delaware Art Museum today.

The make-up time will be Wednesday, March 18th at 7 pm at Starbucks on Main Street in Middletown.

If you do not attend this meeting, I will have to mark your absence as unexcused for the month of March!

May Meeting Option

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 11, 2009

Every spring, CCAP au pairs from the Philadelphia area gather in the City of Brotherly Love for a fun “scavenger hunt.”  During the “hunt,” your team will go around the city and find specific items from a list.  There is a time limit, and the team that finds the most items at the end of the time wins!

If this is something you guys are up for, we can use this for our May meeting!  We could probably take SEPTA into the city from Wilmington, so no one has to drive in the city.

Here is more information from the organizing LCCs:

You’re Invited

What: Regional Au Pair Meeting

When: Saturday May 2, 2009 11 am

Where: the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA.

Why: Run up the steps like Rocky, look for small “treasures”, and walk a few blocks to finish in Love Park. Maybe if you are fast, and ask Americans question- you will win a gift card. Maybe you will make new friends. Your LCC will be sending more information soon, but don’t forget to talk to your family about the upcoming Regional Au Pair Meeting on Saturday May 2 at 11 am in Philadelphia. Also- wear your blue Cultural Care t-shirt for extra points, and bring a friend from another au pair agency for another extra point!

Think about it and we can discuss whether we will participate at the meeting on Sunday.  It should be really fun and a great way to meet other au pairs in the region!!

June Meeting Information

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 11, 2009

CCAP HOST FAMILY AND AU PAIR EVENT

BLUE ROCKS BASE BALL GAME

Vs. Lynchburg

Frawley Stadium

801 South Madison Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

302.888.BLUE

Sunday    June 7, 2009

Game time   1:35pm

Scooby Doo Tribute and

Blue Rocks Bingo Event

We will be sitting in the General Admission seats along the third base side of the stadium

Buy your general admission tickets ahead of time or on Game Day

General Admission tickets - $6

Kids age 4-12 - $4

Can’t wait to see all of you there!

This event is being hosted by LCC Susan Morris in Wilmington and many other CCAP au pairs will be in attendance.  This will count as our June meeting, so please plan to be there!