Parent Information about the Au pair program

Information for Parents of Au Pairs

Give your child a global head start! Being an au pair is one of the safest ways for young people to experience life abroad, and our program helps build confidence and career skills. Au pairs care for kids, take classes, explore the USA, and forge lifelong friendships. With local support and 24/7 staff assistance, it's the ultimate journey of growth and discovery.

What are the benefits for your child?

Professional development

Au pairs develop valuable skills for career and life, including time management, communication, resourcefulness, and cultural awareness.

Personal growth

Au pairs experience transformative growth on our program, reporting greater self-confidence, self-awareness and independence once they return home.

International experience

Traveling and experiencing new cultures unlocks new opportunities for au pairs and helps to expand their networks.

96%

of au pairs apply the skills and experience they acquired through the program to their professional pursuits¹

94%

of au pairs have more confidence in themselves as a result of their time in the USA¹

90%

of au pairs report improved English ability after their program term¹

Classes at an American university or college

Au pairs enrich their experience with 6 U.S. college credits (even more if they extend after a year). Au pairs can explore their interests or try something new! The best part: host families contribute up to USD500 toward their au pair's education.

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“What is the best part about the experience?”

How does the program work?

Step 1

Attend an Info Session

Au pairs attend an Info Session to learn more about au pair life and program requirements. They also interview with a Cultural Care staff member.

Step 2

Find a host family match

Au pairs create a profile on our app and connect with American host families. When they both click, it’s a match!

Step 3

Prepare for departure

Au pairs attend Cultural Care’s Au Pair Training School and pre-departure workshop, and our staff assists them in securing their visa and flights.

Step 4

Travel to the USA

Au pairs are welcomed by their host families and settle in. A local representative visits within 2 weeks to make sure things are going well

Step 5

A year of adventure

Au pairs care for kids for up to 45 hours/week and earn a minimum weekly stipend of USD195.75. They also take classes, make new friends, and travel.

Step 6

Return home enriched

Au pairs stay one year in the USA or extend for up to 12 months, and they return home with improved English, more confidence, and global experience!

Our host families are thoroughly vetted and prepared to welcome an au pair

All families complete an extensive profile, including references and a criminal background check

Families are interviewed in their home by a local representative who reviews program rules and assesses suitability

Before their au pair arrives, host families complete required prep courses that outline expectations and best practices

Host families agree to embrace the spirit of the au pair program by welcoming their au pair as an extended family member

“We absolutely love our au pair and couldn’t imagine life without her.

We believe we are the luckiest family in the world having Kristin in our home, and we wish she could stay forever. No one will ever shine brighter than her or could ever replace her. Kristin IS family!”

— Shannon, host mom in RI

What our au pairs are saying

Experience you can trust since 1989

Program regulations

The U.S. Department of State regulates the au pair program, and as a designated sponsor, Cultural Care ensures the limits for on-duty hours and responsibilities are followed.

Home country support

Au pairs benefit from full home office support, provided by a team made up of over 80% former au pairs, offering unparalleled understanding.

Travel insurance

All Cultural Care au pairs benefit from a comprehensive group insurance policy that includes a medical coverage plus liability and legal, theft and programme interruption.

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Au pair FAQs

Is the au pair program safe?

The safety of our au pairs is a top priority, and we take several steps to help make the program as risk-free as possible. Every host family goes through a detailed screening process, including a criminal background check and an in-home interview with a local representative. Before arriving in the USA, au pairs complete a training course that includes a session on personal safety, and once matched with their host family, they receive support throughout the year from both their local coordinator and our Cultural Care team — including 24/7 emergency assistance. Au pairs are also covered by a travel insurance policy created just for them, offering extra protection while they’re in the USA.

Are au pairs insured during their time in the USA?

What happens if an au pair needs help during their program term?

The support network we provide in the USA is extensive and, in fact, the largest of its kind for an au pair agency in the country. This means that au pairs will have a sense of security during their time spent as an au pair with an American host family. With matching specialists ensuring au pairs are placed with a suitable host family, as well as help teams available 24/7, we promise to provide guidance throughout the duration of the au pair's time in the USA as a Cultural Care au pair.

How will my child benefit from being an au pair with Cultural Care?

Being an au pair is more than just a job—it’s a personal and professional journey. Through our program, au pairs develop life skills like independence, responsibility, time management, English fluency, and communication. They build confidence, make lifelong friends, explore the USA, and experience daily life in a new culture. Au pairs also take college classes to discover new interests and continue their education. In fact, 96% of Cultural Care au pairs say they use the skills they gained in their future careers.

I have more questions — how can I learn more?

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¹According to EurekaFacts, LLC. (2020). Review of Au Pair program