Host Family
Qualifications to host an Au Pair

To Host An Au Pair, Families must:

1. Be parents / legal guardians (couples or single parents) with their children living at home. (Au pair care may not be provided for infants under three months nor children older than 12 years.) 2. Be U.S. citizens or legal, permanent residents with host parents/ guardians who are fluent in English. 3. Be congenial, hospitable and of good moral character. Provide a spare, separate, adequately furnished bedroom for the au pair. Have an apartment or home in a safe location which is suitable for an additional person.

5. Attend a locally-conducted orientation meeting prior to the au pair's arrival. This orientation explains the philosophy of the EurAupair exchange program, the emergency and support services, insurance coverage, and provides practical and helpful guidance on helping the au pair adjust to your family. Child care and cross-cultural issues, au pair activities and educational opportunities are also discussed.

6. Familiarize the au pair with your children and family routines. You'll want to be available, or make another responsible adult available, at home for the first three days after the au pair arrives in order to supervise this important transition.

7. Agree in advance to a child care schedule not exceeding 45 hours per week and 10 hours per day.

8. Accept that the au pair providing au pair care is in an exchange program participant. Although the au pair will assist in the care of your children, she must be accepted as a full member of the family and be included in family meals, outings and activities.

9. Provide the au pair with $176.85* per week pocket money. The EurAupair au pair weekly pocket money is per family, not per child (four children maximum). Pocket money is provided on a weekly basis, and may not be prorated depending upon the number of hours of child care provided.

10. Agree to one complete weekend free per month for the au pair (Friday night through Monday morning) and a minimum of 1½ consecutive days per week free for the remainder of the month (1 day and night falling on Friday, Saturday or Sunday).

11. Ensure that the au pair completes at least six credit hours per year of educational or cultural instruction, and reimburse the au pair for any required tuition or fees (up to $500 over the year).

12. During the year, provide the au pair with two weeks of vacation with weekly pocket money, the timing to be mutually agreed upon in advance between the family and the au pair.

13. Understand that an au pair is not an experienced, professional child care provider, but rather a young person from abroad who wants to learn about the American culture by living with a family while assisting with the children.

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