beginning of au pair in America.

Our Story

Our story began with a simple but powerful belief: that cultural exchange has the power to bring people closer, broaden perspectives, and create lasting impact.

In 1986, Au Pair in America® became the first program of its kind in the United States, founded by the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), a leader in international education founded in 1964.

Since then, we’ve connected hundreds of thousands of au pairs with host families across the U.S. through live-in childcare rooted in trust, discovery, and cultural understanding.

au pair with children in 1990s.

Who Is Au Pair in America®? 

The nation’s first au pair agency — supporting cultural exchange and childcare from the start. 

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Why Choose Au Pair in America®

  • Trusted by Families Since 1986

    Au Pair in America® is the nation’s first au pair agency. Since our founding, we’ve helped countless families across the United States benefit from intercultural, live-in childcare assistance.

  • Personalized Support at Every Step

    You and your family will receive comprehensive support from our national office and a local Community Counselor, including au pair matching assistance, orientation services, coordinating logistics, and 24/7 emergency assistance. 

  • Flexible, Dependable Childcare

    Au Pair in America® au pairs provide flexible childcare that can be customized to your family’s unique schedule. Plus, our au pairs are committed to your family, hosting an au pair means live-in childcare you can rely on! 

  • Worldwide Recruitment Network

    With one of the largest au pair recruitment networks, we offer families a robust selection of candidates from around the world, allowing you to help your family learn about a culture of your choosing. 

  • Trusted & Trained Childcare

    All our au pairs have verified recent childcare experience and are thoroughly vetted. We also partner with experts like AAA® and the American Red Cross® to provide additional pre-departure training for our au pairs.

  • Multiple Program Options

    Au Pair in America® offers four program options to cater to each family’s unique childcare needs. Whether you need before and after-school childcare support, specialized care for a child with special needs, or the reliable care of our standard au pair program, we have a program that can help. 

  • Cost-Effective, Accessible Childcare

    With no application or credit card fees, plus one rate per family (not per child), our program makes quality childcare more accessible, especially for families with multiple children. 

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Our Legacy of Leadership

Mid 1980s

American women are entering the workforce in record numbers and young people from abroad are coming to the U.S. to learn more about American culture.
AIFS proposes a new type of cultural exchange program to the U.S. Department of State: au pair childcare. 

1986

The State Department grants Au Pair in America® a “test program.” It’s an instant success. The first au pair program in the U.S. is born. 

1994

Congress and President Clinton make the Au Pair program permanent. 

Program Evolution

Over the years, we’ve worked closely with the State Department to enhance and expand the program worldwide, giving families more choices to fit their unique preferences.

Today

We offer au pairs from nearly 60 countries, along with three program options in addition to our standard Au Pair program: Extraordinaire, EduCare in America, and Year2.

au pair and host family celebrating Chinese culture.

Global Awareness 

An arm of Au Pair in America®, Global Awareness is focused on enriching our participants’ program experience through expanded educational and cultural activities. It aims to encourage cultural understanding and appreciation between the Au Pair in America® host families, au pairs, and the communities in which the au pairs live. 

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