About Us
The nation’s first & most recognized au pair program
Au Pair in America combines cultural exchange & live-in child care for a mutually rewarding and enriching experience for the entire family.
Since 1986, Au Pair in America has placed more than 110,000 au pairs in 43 states. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Au Pair in America maintains offices in five countries with a network of more than 600 employees worldwide dedicated to providing you with a reliable source of child care and a once-in-a-lifetime cultural exchange experience for your family.
Our headquarters, provides comprehensive support to all program participants. An experienced and dedicated placement team facilitates the selection and distribution of au pair applications for host family review and regional managers assist the activities of our community counselors throughout the country. We also handle the logistics like visas, flights and offer the definitive au pair orientation program in the industry.
Au Pair in America is an organization of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS). With more than 50 years of experience, AIFS is a leader in the educational and cultural exchange arena. More than 50,000 people participate each year on AIFS programs—more than 1.5 million since its founding in 1964. AIFS maintain offices in the U.S., Australia, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.
Our Story So Far …
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How did it all start
In the mid-80’s, women were entering the work force in record numbers and were in need of quality live-in child care. At the same time, young people from abroad were eager to come to the U.S. to learn more about American culture and customs. People were becoming more globally aware.
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A new type of cultural exchange program
In response to this changing landscape, we proposed a new type of cultural exchange program – one for child care – to the U.S. Department of State. The goal was to bring carefully screened young people to the U.S. to live with families and assist with child care, while also participating in a culture and education program. These young adults would attend a three-day training orientation including a child care safety course upon arriving in the States and would be supervised by local Community Counselors while staying with an American family for one year. It was an enhanced version of the traditional European Au Pair concept.
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We called it Au Pair in America
In February of 1986, the State Department granted us a “test program” and that summer we brought our first 200 au pairs over from Western Europe. The program was an instant success and was featured on Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and hundreds of other local publications in the pre-internet age.
Over the years that followed, we worked closely with the State Department to enhance and expand the program worldwide giving families more choices to fit their unique lifestyles. Along with offering au pairs from more than 60 countries, au pairs can now stay with their U.S. family for a second year, allowing for greater child care continuity. We also created the specialized EduCare and Au Pair Extraordinaire programs giving families even more options. read article »
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The program becomes permanent
Au Pair in America’s track record was so strong that it was instrumental in Congress and President Clinton’s decision to make the au pair program permanent in 1994.
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Setting the standard. Raising the bar.
Since that time, we continue to innovate and strengthen our program to provide more opportunities for both au pairs and families. Being the first organization to offer a Red Cross safety program and a customized AAA driving course are milestones and initiatives we are very proud to have pioneered. Our original structure included a comprehensive au pair selection and screening process, cultural and educational activities for families and au pairs and expert, local support services that families can depend on. These were hallmarks of the original program and they continue to this day, enhanced by the experience and knowledge we’ve gained by connecting more than 110,000 families with au pairs for over 30 years.
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The definitive intercultural child care experience
We invite you to experience this unique and outstanding child care program.
Schedule a consultation with us
to discuss your needs.
Other AIFS Programs
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Academic Year in America (AYA) – High school foreign exchange Each year, AYA brings nearly 1,000 high school students from around the world to the U.S. They come for the school year, to live with American families and attend local high schools, learning about American culture and sharing their own language and customs with their host families. AYA is a sponsored by the AIFS Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. |
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AIFS College Study Abroad – AIFS offers study abroad programs for college students. With more than 25 programs in 17 countries around the world, students can study abroad for a summer, semester, academic year or January term. |
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American Council for International Studies (ACIS) – High School travel and education For more than 30 years, ACIS has helped students and their teachers discover the world through premier travel and education. Teachers can choose destinations around the world to experience with their students, throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia. |
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Camp America – Cultural exchange and summer camp experience Each summer, Camp America brings thousands of young people from around the world to the U.S. for a one-of-a-kind cultural exchange and summer camp staffing experience. |
