AU PAIR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
FEATURED ARTICLES IN THIS EDITION:
In Person “Warm Welcome” for Au Pairs Is BACK!
We have waited over three years to bring back this valuable part of the program experience for our au pairs. Au pairs will no longer fly direct to their host families upon arrival to the USA. Au Pair in America is thrilled to announce the return of our in person “Warm Welcome” for au pairs starting in July. The Warm Welcome sessions provide a valuable full day of training for au pairs, on topics like child development and safety, as well as an opportunity for au pairs to connect with one another and the au pair program, before departing for their host family home. Au pairs especially love the tour of NYC that caps off the Warm Welcome session.
APIA’s team of expert trainers is excited to welcome au pairs for their first two nights in the USA and help them prepare for a successful exchange experience and an amazing au pair year.
American Red Cross Summer Safety
APIA has partnered with the American Red Cross for many years. Why? Because they have amazing information and guidance about all kinds of safety.
What’s your plan for this summer? Enjoying the water? Going camping? Firing up the grill? Whatever you prefer, the American Red Cross had great safety information to share! And don’t forget your furry friends. There are steps you can take to help keep them safe too!
Red Cross Classes for Au Pairs
Continuing our summer safety theme, did you know APIA offers a Red Cross Scholarship to au pairs? Classes are available all over the country in local hospitals and through the Red Cross, adult education centers and local YMCAs.
Au Pair in America will pay for the cost of a class providing an au pair has at least six months left on their visa and is taking one of several approved child care/child safety related classes, such as Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED.
Au pairs should check with their Community Counselor and host family before signing up. Au Pair in America will register the au pair directly.
To locate a class, visit www.redcross.org/takeaclass. For more information on how to locate a class and enroll, click here.
Travel Safety Tips
Summer is a fun time to travel! Maybe you are planning your travel month, a vacation or even a day trip. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
If you haven’t made photocopies of your most important documents, remember to do so before you take those documents on a trip. In case of loss or theft, the photocopies cannot substitute for originals, but they may help you get replacement papers sooner. If you do not need your passport, leave it at home in a safe place.
Travel Safety Tips:
- Never leave your luggage unattended in a car, especially a rental.
- Don’t put any valuables in luggage that you check.
- Keep your travel tickets, passport and visa in a closed bag or pocket.
- Never carry a large amount of cash.
- Carry your cash separate from your wallet. Keep both in an inner or front pocket.
- Carry handbags and cameras close to you, not hanging by a long strap.
- Don’t put valuables in an easy-to-reach backpack.
- If you are bumped or distracted by a stranger, be aware that a pickpocket may be targeting you.
- Stay alert! Stay in well lit places! Avoid walking alone at night!
Water Safety
As experts in cultural exchange and child care solutions, Au Pair in America prioritizes partnerships with other organizations with expertise in child development and safety. One of those partnerships is with Colin’s Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping kids safer around water.
Au Pair in America and Colin’s Hope recently cohosted a Water Safety Webinar for parents and caregivers. This session covered strategies that parents and caregivers can use to keep children safer around water. Colin’s Hope provided practical tips and resources to make summer safe and enjoyable.
Free Au Pair Webinars
We offer a wide range of ongoing webinar training opportunities for au pairs during their time on the program. The webinars are hosted by our au pair orientation trainers and are designed to help au pairs manage life in the U.S. They include topics such as child care, safety, resume building and homesickness.
Au Pairs can view the selection of upcoming webinars being offered and register at any time. Upcoming sessions include:
- Talk Talk Talk: Activities to Develop Speech and Language in Young Children
- Activity Time: Infants and Toddlers
- No School: Activities to Do with Kids of All Ages
- 10 Terrific Tips to Get the Kids to Cooperate and Create Less Stressful Days
- Toilet Training 101
Visit our Au Pair Webinar page
As always, we’re here to support you! Your Community Counselor is your first contact. At Au Pair in America, we take great pride in being able to provide 24-hour support to our program participants. If you cannot reach your Community Counselor and the office is closed, there is always a Regional Program Manager on call for urgent situations. To reach our after-hours emergency line, call 1-800-928-7247 and follow the prompts at the end of the message.
