Locations | What is EduCare®? | Become an EduCare Companion | Who are the Companions? | The Program | Arrival Information | Costs

In 2008, EduCare® in America will be available in the following locations:

• Colorado: Denver
• Connecticut: Lower Fairfield County - New Haven*
• Georgia: Atlanta and suburbs
• Illinois: Greater Chicago Area
• Kansas: Greater Kansas City Area
• Maryland: Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Howard County and Baltimore County
• Massachusetts: Boston and suburbs
• Michigan: Ann Arbor and the Detroit Metro Area
• New Jersey
• New York: Dutchess, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester Counties
• Ohio: Cleveland, Columbus
• Oregon: Portland and suburbs
• Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and suburbs
• Rhode Island: Providence and suburbs
• Virginia: Fauquier and Frederick

*Please call 1-800-928-7247 ext, 5161 for details.

For more information on the program, contact Alex Ramirez at 1-800-928-7247 ext. 5161 or aramirez@aifs.com. You may also click here for more specific information on site locations and the schools at which companions study.

What is EduCare®?
EduCare® is a cost-effective program for families with full-time school age children who require up to 30 hours a week of child care rather than the 45 hours a week provided by the traditional Au Pair in America® program. Through the EduCare® program, your family is provided with the same high quality service and cultural richness that thousands of families have received for 18 years through Au Pair in America®. The distinction is that EduCare® offers you the opportunity to continue to receive quality live-in care as your children grow and your needs change.

Who are EduCare® companions?
EduCare® companions share the responsibilities of day-to-day life, leaving you to focus on responsibilities at home and work. Companions are skilled young adults, ages 18 to 26, who will provide quality care for your school age children, while broadening their own educational horizons by taking 12 credit hours of post-secondary courses at an accredited institution in your community. They come from countries all over the world such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Companions have a minimum of 200 hours of experience caring for children, have held a full driving license for at least 6 months and have frequent driving experience, and speak English to a high standard.

How does the program work?
Your EduCare® companion will provide your family with:

• 30 hours of quality live-in child care per week, not to exceed 10 hours per day
• the benefits of cultural and language exchange
• a positive role model for your children as she pursues her studies here in America

As a host family, you will provide your EduCare® companion with:

• Transportation from the orientation session to your home
• a private room and three meals a day
• one weekend off per month and two weeks of paid vacation
• a weekly stipend of $132.64
• assistance in her fulfillment of the educational component of the program. This includes contributing $1,000 per year to cover tuition, materials and fees, as well as providing transportation and time to attend classes.

When will the companions arrive?
Companions will arrive this summer and again in December. Arrival dates are scheduled so as to coincide with the academic year in the United States. Companions will fly into New York to attend a four-day orientation and training program in Connecticut, after which they will continue on to their host families.

The arrival dates for 2008 EduCare® companions are as follows:

What does the program cost? Click here.

Many of the regulations are similar to the Au Pair program. For more information, click here.

To apply for an EduCare® companion, click here.