The Community Counselor interviews potential host families to evaluate their appropriateness for the Au Pair in America program. The CC also matches host families with au pairs, has responsibility for a cluster and generally facilitates the host family/au pair relationship.

The Community Counselor is responsible for ensuring adherence to program regulations established by the State Department.

The Community Counselor reports to an assigned regional program manager. Regional representatives assist in training new Counselors and work with them to market the program and provide support in customer service issues. An annual conference and regional meeting provide an opportunity to network nationally and internationally.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Recruit potential host families
• Interview prospective host families when applications are forwarded by the main office
• Conduct an orientation of all new host families, in person, before the arrival of the au pair (and for repeat host families as deemed necessary)
• Organize au pair travel arrangements from the Stamford, Connecticut, orientation to the host community in conjunction with the host family, sending travel information to the Connecticut office and ensuring that each au pair is met by the host family upon arrival
• Contact the au pair within 48 hours of arrival
• Meet with each au pair and host family in person within two weeks of arrival
• Supplement the orientation program if an Au Pair missed any portion of the formal orientation program in Connecticut
• Submit: (1) a formal two-week evaluation for all new placements as well as for rematches, (2) host family interview results, (3) two-week summaries, (4) quarterly reports and placement change reports, (5) record of educational courses completed by each au pair
• Go for an informal visit once during the third month (more frequently if called for)
• Maintain a record of all personal monthly contacts with au pairs and host families
• Organize monthly meetings for au pairs in the cluster
• Plan and attend annual cultural events with the au pairs in the cluster (to ensure that all au pairs are given the opportunity to participate, more than one cultural event may have to be planned to encompass arrivals and departures)
• Coordinate and host an annual host family day
• Establish, foster and maintain rapport with each au pair and host family
• Assess problems impartially before they develop into crises and mediate, when necessary, to resolve a situation, informing the regional program manager of critical situations
• Ensure that each au pair gains a working knowledge of the community and completes the educational requirements
• Offer interim room and board to an au pair in case of emergency

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