If an Au Pair has an issue with her family or situation, she should first discuss it with the family to see if it can be resolved. If they do not resolve the issue, the Au Pair should request that I visit and talk with everyone at the same time to see if we can resolve it. That meeting is called a Mediation. This post lists obligations and options during the time of Mediation. 

Now that Mediation has been conducted, what happens next? In most cases, Mediation can successfully resolve issues.  The 2 week period following the Mediation is an opportunity for all parties to try again with a fresh start.  The greatest chance for success occurs when the host parents, au pair, and host children make adjustments to their behavior as agreed, immediately following the Mediation.  While it is good to be patient with any adjustments that are difficult, it is also important to continue to be open in communication and address concerns promptly if some part of the agreement is not being followed.  

Your LCC is here to offer you support during this time.  S/he will check in with both you and your au pair after one week to see what progress has been made on the solutions that were discussed.  If you have any questions or concerns, however, you can also contact your Program Director. The next and final check-in will be 2 weeks from the date of the Mediation. If the situation between you and your au pair has been resolved, then the LCC will resume her regular monthly check in with you after that point. 

What happens if Mediation did not resolve the issues? If, during the 2 week time frame described above, the situation has not improved, then you and your host family may indicate to your LCC that you feel it necessary to go into Transition. Your LCC will return for an in-home Exit Interview.  During the Exit Interview, you can discuss with your LCC and host family tactics for getting through the transition period amicably, even though you have decided to part ways. The LCC will help you come to agreement with your host family about your last working day, as well as the date of your final move out. It is at your host family’s discretion to have you work during the 2 week period. If you are working you will be paid your stipend. If you host family does not have you working, they will not pay your stipend, but they are required to house you for the 2 weeks following your exit interview.  Since you may or may not be working during your final 2 weeks, the last working day and the final move out day may not be the same. We recommend that you also use the Exit Interview as a time to discuss and agree upon any bills or outstanding issues, such as when you are expected to return keys, mobile phones, or other property.  If necessary, devise a repayment plan in writing.  All outstanding bills will have to be settled with your host family before you leave their home.

Important things to remember. Your LCC will ask you what requests you have for a future host family. In order for you to have the best chance on finding another host family, it is important for you to stay as flexible as possible with your requests. You should inform your LCC of the best time you can be reached and on what phone number. Since you will be with your current host family for two weeks, if you are working, it is important that you continue to do your very best for the host family.

 How will the Transitional Matching Process Work? The LCC will submit a Transition Form to Cultural Care and indicate your future host family requests.  Upon receipt of the exit form, your Program Director will contact you to discuss the reasons for going into transition and how we can assist you moving forward. After the follow up conversation with your Program Director, you will receive an email with important transition guidelines. Your Program Director will assist both you and your host family during the transition and matching process and will be able to answer any questions you may have. It is important for you to be available by phone and to frequently check your emails and au pair account. Your application will be made available for matching as soon as you have had a conversation with your Program Director on the next business day following the exit interview. It is very important that you are available for this call. You should indicate to your LCC during the exit interview what the best time is for you to be contacted and on what number.We cannot start matching you until this conversation has taken place. When you are matched with a potential host family, and they feel you might be a good fit for them, they will call you for an interview. During the interview, it is important that you ask questions about the children, what they like to do, your schedule and what the host family’s expectations of you are. You should also share with your potential new host family what your expectations are and discuss any vacation plans etc that you might already have made. If a new host family is not found for you within the 2 week transition time, and you have been open to being placed anywhere in the US, Cultural Care Au Pair will book and pay for a flight home. If you have not been flexible on being placed and refuse host families solely on where they live, you may be responsible for your flight home. 

What can I expect from my Program Director? The Program Director will guide you through the matching and finaling process and will be able to answer any questions you may have. To start the re-matching process as quickly as possible, you will need to speak with your Program Director the next business day.  S/he will contact you when they have received the Exit Interview Form.  You may also proactively contact your Program Director at any time you have questions. During the matching process, your Program Director will be in daily contact with you.  

If Host Family and Au Pair cannot resolve an issue, they should ask me for help. I will visit at a mutually convenient time and discuss the issue to see if it can be resolved. This post gives Host Families some ideas about their obligations and options at that time. 

Now that Mediation has been conducted, what happens next? In most cases, Mediation can successfully resolve issues.  The 2 week period following the Mediation is an opportunity for all parties to try again with a fresh start.  The greatest chance for success occurs when the host parents, au pair, and host children make adjustments to their behavior as agreed, immediately following the Mediation.  While it is good to be patient with any adjustments that are difficult, it is also important to continue to be open in communication and address it promptly if some part of the agreement is not being followed.  Your LCC is here to offer you support during this time.  S/he will check in with both you and your au pair after one week to see what progress has been made on the solutions that were discussed.  If you have any questions or concerns, however, you can also call at any time.  The next and final check-in will be 2 weeks from the date of the Mediation.  If the situation between you and your au pair has been resolved, then the LCC will resume her regular monthly check in with you after that point. 

What happens if Mediation did not resolve the issues? If, during the 2 week time frame described above, the situation has not improved, then you and your au pair may indicate to your LCC that you feel it necessary to go into Transition. Your LCC will return for an in-home Exit Interview.  During the Exit Interview, you can discuss with your LCC and au pair tactics for getting through the transition period amicably, even though you have decided to part ways. The LCC will help you come to agreement with your au pair about her last working day for you, as well as the date of her final move out. It is at your discretion to have the au pair work during the 2 week period, or not.  Since you may or may not have your au pair work during the au pair’s final 2 weeks, the last working day and the final move out day may not be the same. 

We recommend that you also use the Exit Interview as a time to discuss and agree upon any bills or outstanding issues, such as when the au pair is expected to return keys, mobile phones, or other property.  If necessary, devise a repayment plan in writing.  Once the au pair has left your home, it may be very difficult for you to enforce any agreement, so you will want to settle these issues before your au pair departs your home.  Cultural Care cannot be held responsible for anything that your au pair fails to pay or return. 

What is our responsibility for housing our au pair during Transition?O nce in Transition, your family will be responsible for housing the au pair for 2 weeks.  This will give you both a period of time to begin the matching process.  The time between Mediation and Transition does not count toward this 2 week period.  Whether or not the au pair has matched at the end of the 2 weeks, you are not required to house the au pair after that point. 

Should my Au Pair continue to work? It is at your discretion if you would like for your au pair to continue to work for the 2 transitional weeks. This should be discussed at the time it has been decided to go into Transition. If you decide not to have the au pair work, he/she will not have to be paid the stipend, nor will you be charged for the program fee during this time. You will however be required to house the au pair for the 2 week transition period. 

How will the Transitional Matching Process Work? After the Exit Interview, your family will want to begin finding another au pair.  This matching period will be similar to when you first found an au pair.  You will be able to reconsider your selection criteria and interview au pairs who will be a successful fit with your family and needs.

• The LCC will submit a Transition Form to Cultural Care and indicate your future au pair needs. Upon receipt of the exit form, your Program Director will contact you to discuss the reasons for going into transition and how we can assist you moving forward.
• After the follow up conversation with your Program Director, you will receive an email with important transition guidelines as well as financial information.  
• Your Program Director will assist both you and your au pair during the transition and matching process and will be able to answer any questions you may have.  

Will we have a gap in childcare during this process? Depending on your family’s needs, your matching time period may require more than 2 weeks.  Cultural Care wants you to have the best opportunity for finding a replacement au pair who will work well with your family, so we do not limit your matching period.  While we will strive to find an au pair replacement for you as soon as possible, it is important that you have a childcare “back up” plan.  There may be a gap between the current au pair’s last working day and the future au pair’s start date.  You may want to ask your LCC about short-term childcare alternatives available in your area.  

What options are available to me during Matching? Your matching options include in-country and overseas au pairs. The benefits of in-country au pairs: they already have an approved visa, and it may be faster for them to come to your home; they have already gone through the initial adjustment period (for instance, learning U.S. driving customs, getting over homesickness, improving their English); you can learn about their prior experience from their exit interviews, prior family recommendations, and your Program Director. The benefits of an overseas au pair are: opportunity to start fresh with an au pair; much greater pool of candidate.

Do I need to submit a repeat/edited application? If you will have received 30, or more, weeks of childcare, by the end of your 2 week Transition time, then you will need to submit a repeat application. If you have not received 30 weeks of childcare but your application is more than 6 months old, you will need to update the information and submit the edited version. This is to insure that your next au pair has all the current information about your family.

What can I expect from my Program Director? The Program Director will guide you through the matching and finaling process and will be able to answer any questions you may have. To start the re-matching process as quickly as possible, you will need to speak with your Program Director the next business day.  S/he will contact you when they have received the Exit Interview Form.  You may also proactively contact your Program Director at any time you have questions. 

Most au pairs arrive to the U.S. with their home country license and an international driver’s permit (also referred to as an IDP).  It is an au pair’s responsibility to obtain the IDP in her home country before departure for the U.S. The international driver’s permit serves as a translation of the au pair’s home country license and is typically valid for one year.  Please note that not every country that Cultural Care Au Pairs come from have International Driving Permits.  These include but are not limited to countries such as China , Nepal , Ukraine , and Panama.  In the case that an au pair arrives without an IDP, it is important that they take immediate steps upon arrival to obtain a state driver’s license.      

 There is no such thing as an IDL or International Driver’s License, this is a term that is often used and actually does not exist.  The au pair’s driver’s license from their country does not automatically permit them to drive anywhere in the world but only proves that they have satisfied the driving criteria in their home country. 

 Most states in the U.S. allow for a minimal grace period for au pairs to drive for a short period of time on their country license and without the need for a state license.  It is important that if you work with a specific region that you familiarize yourself with what the grace period is in your area.  Once that grace period is over the au pair can only drive under the following two scenarios:

 1)      The au pair comes from a country that is recognized by that STATE as approved to drive with only the need for their country license and the IDP.  There is typically a time limit on this of one year.  OR

 2)      The au pair obtains a STATE DRIVER’S LICENSE for that state and is therefore legally permitted to drive.   

To apply for a PA license she would need to obtain a Permit(DL180), pass the written test, and road test-

To get the Permit she would have to proof of passing a physical, plus eye exam-and pay with a check or money order.

Documentation needed: Passport, I 94, J-1 Visa and proof of attending a school, Soc Security Card, DS2019, 2 proofs of residency including who she is residing with appearing with her in person-and they have to bring a photo ID and 2 bills with their address on it; she would also need something with her name on it like a bank statement showing the residency and a letter of participation in the program showing the host family address would work.

Once she is issued a Permit, then she can take the written test, and once passed, can apply to take the road test.

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