The concept of au pairs actually started in Europe. The word “au pair” is a French term, meaning “on par” or “equal to.” Historically, this term referred to the equal exchange of work, typically for room and board. This did not necessarily mean childcare, but often it did. Over time, the term was used to describe a young person who takes care of children in exchange for room and board.
In the US, the au pair program is meant to be an arrangement of equals, implying that the au pair should become a member of the family, as opposed to a domestic employee. The host family and au pair exchange information about their culture which can include first hand experience with traditions, language, religion, and even food.
Polish au pair Dorota participating in the American tradition of carving the Thanksgiving turkey before giving thanks for the bountiful feast.
I’ll never forget the excited look on Dorota’s face when she experienced her
first Thanksgiving with us. She was so excited to carve the turkey! And of course, I’ll never forget the delicious perogis that her mother made for us when her family came for a visit that summer. (My Polish never really progressed past “Dobra noc” for “Good night”.)
The American au pair program that we know today was started by the Department of State in 1986. goAUPAIR is one of the original agencies designated by the Department of State as an au pair program sponsor. (There are currently 10 agencies.) In order to enter the country legally as an au pair, participants must enter the program through one of these agencies.
Au pairs are young adults between the ages of 18 and 26, who come to the US on a J-1 visa, which is a type of student visa. The visa is good for one year, but may be extended for 6, 9 or 12 months upon satisafactory completion of the first year’s requirements. The program has an educational component, requiring the au pair to complete an equivalent of 6 credit hours at an accredited post-secondary school. This requirment must be met before an extension may be granted.
Au pairs provide childcare for a host family for up to 45 hours per week, and no more than 10 hours a day. In exchange, they receive room, board and a weekly stipend (which is determined by a formula that is based on the federal minimum wage). The current stipend is $195.75 per week for the standard au pair program.
Additionally, the host family pays a placement fee to the agency and contributes to the cost of education. These fees may vary by agency, but the minimum stipend is mandated by the Department of State.
The annualized cost of current charges, including program fees, tuition allowance, and the weekly stipend is approximately $341.00 per week for the standard au pair program.
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