What is an Au Pair?

Au Pair Program Information

"I think I can get along with any child and we'll become good friends." Iuliia is and 23 year old au pair from the Ukraine. She would like to become an au pair because she wants to improve her English and enjoys  working  with children. Iuliia would like to learn about american culture.

The term “au pair” was originally a French term meaning “equal to” which described the relationship a young woman had with a family. She lived on an equal basis and was treated as a member of the family. Today, “au pair” refers to either young men or young women from foreign countries who live with a Host Family while providing child care services in exchange for the opportunity to live in their country while learning the language and culture.  In 1989 the U.S. Department of State launched the Au Pair program through six designated agencies.  goAUPAIR was one of these original six.  Today, goAUPAIR represents families across the U.S. and works with agencies in over 50 countries around the world.

Roles of Participants

There are a variety of groups and individuals that participate in the Au Pair program each with different responsibilities.  Department of State The Department of State oversees the Au Pair program by designating sponsor agencies and creating the program regulations. goAUPAIR As one of a handful of Au Pair sponsors designated by the U.S. Department of State, we are responsible for ensuring that all of the federally regulated program rules are followed. goAUPAIR is the sponsor of the Au Pair’s visa and is required to ensure that all Au Pairs remain in good standing while under our sponsorship. Each Host Family has a dedicated Placement Coordinator that assists with the matching process and provides support throughout the year. International Agency All Au Pairs participating in the program are required to meet certain requirements as outlined by the Department of State. goAUPAIR exceeds the basic requirements by providing additional screening for each applicant. Our International Agencies recruit and screen Au Pairs from around the globe which allows us to bring Au Pairs to the U.S. from a wide variety of countries. Au Pairs All Au Pairs must be between 18-26 years old when they first enter the U.S., have previous child care experience and speak English. In addition, all Au Pairs participating in the goAUPAIR program are required to complete a full application which includes the following:  In-person interview 2 child care references 1 character reference Physician’s report Letter to potential Host Families Clean criminal background check Psychometric test Personality test High School graduate or equivalent 32 hours of training on safety and child development Pictures Au Pairs can provide up to 45 each week of child care and perform light housekeeping. While in the U.S., Au Pairs must complete 6* credits at an accredited, post-secondary university. Throughout their entire stay, Au Pairs are required to maintain contact with their Local Area Representative and goAUPAIR. Local Area Representative Our Local Area Representatives provide local support to our Host Families and Au Pairs. Local Area Representatives will perform the initial interview in your home before your Au Pair arrives, the orientation shortly after your Au Pair has arrived and maintain monthly contact throughout your Au Pair’s stay. Local Area Representatives are also responsible for creating Au Pair activities as well as providing Host Family Day Conferences which every Host Family is required to attend at least once each year. Host Families Our Host Families provide full room and board, a weekly stipend and $500* per year towards tuition in exchange for child care and light housekeeping. Host Families must provide their Au Pair with a private room that has a door on it which will be verified by your Local Area Representative during the interview. You will be responsible for interviewing and ultimately selecting your Au Pair.