[sandrakassia]

Hi, There is this government approved program called "au pair".

The girls come legally from another country to work up to 45 hours a week, live with the family and learn American culture.

It is my first option of childcare and I wonder If I am allowed to use this form of childcare if I decide to foster.

I called the program and they said that there would be no problem to them, but I should see if social services accept.

My question is if the social service has any problem with it. The girls are fingerprinted in their original country before they come to US and they can be fingerprinted again once they get here (although once they never been here before the finger printing will give no response).

My preference for this kind of child care is because it is affordable (around $280 a week for up to 45 hours of childcare a week, plus light housekeeping related to the kid, including up to 4 kids (although I am not thinking of fostering more than 2 at a time). The advantage is that if I get a kid with short notice, I don't need to worry with looking for a day care, or loose a day of work....

Any thoughts? Anyone know anything about it?

[leenab]

Having been a nanny for the summer during college and now 3 years of experience as a foster/adoptive mother I would have to advise against having an aupair for your foster children for the following reasons:

1. Foster children are not your average typical child at all. I've had 12 children in 3 years, adopted 3 children. Trust me not one of them was a typical child at placement. They have pasts of abuse, neglect, drug exposures, attachment issues, adjustment disorderes various medical/dental issues.

2. Au pairs are quite young and not as experienced as daycare centers, more qualified nannies, etc. They don't have training in foster children and their situations.

3. Au pairs are temporary, you'll be changing more often than you would a nanny or daycare center.

4. You need to add them to your car insurance, another big expense.

5. You'll have to give the au pair her own room as well. So it can turn into an issue of space.

6. Some au pair programs also require you to pay for college classes for your au pair while he/she is here.

I met quite a few au pairs when I was nannying in NYC and they were out quite a bit partying on the weekends and didn't take their jobs as seriously as I thought they should have. A few of the families I nannied for had bad experiences with au pairs, and they had well behaved biochildren.

In our state your babysitter has to be over the age of 18 and fingerprinted/background checked. So as long as you could fingerprint the au pair your state should be fine with it.

I just wouldn't ever consider using an au pair, especially for foster children.

Personally being a foster parent can be stressful on an adult. Imagine being new to a country and being put in charge of foster children as your "cultural experience". I would hop on the next plane to my home country.

Take a look at the boards and read about some of the problems/issues/vents/etc. It is not an easy thing to do.

Just my opinion,
Leena

[leenab]

Reason #7. You also have to pay for health insurance for your au pair.

[az sun]

Just to let you know in most states I believe the amount they will subdize for childcare is somewhat fixed. Here in my state the day care provider gets more than we get per day to foster... that being said our fd was only subsidized about $550 per month and if the daycare charged over this it came out of our pocket.
I also believe that there were restrictions like authorized DES daycare or authorized DES inhome childcare provider, they did not approve a nanny here.
Good luck

[sandrakassia]

Thank you for your reply!

Lenab, I understand your point. I came to US at first as an au pair. Although I had serious goals and didnt go party at all (I came mainly to study), most of my au pair friends were here only for partying and didnt care about the kids at all.

In my situation, because of my profession, I got a work visa and now in process for a green card (although hubby is American, so I would get it from him anyway later).

It is true that most au pairs are young and inexperienced. This being said, I was already a pediatric physical therapist when I came to US, and had years of experience with autistic kids (I came to live with a family with an autistic child). So, there are some few who are more experienced.

My first thought was because there is a HUGE demand for physical and ocupational therapists in the country (they are bringing therapists from many different places), to look for physical or ocupational therapists from my country, with lots of experience in pediatric (as I had) and while they were au pairs, I could help them to get their licenses, papers, etc.

This way, I would be getting someone with more experience in special needs kids.

Other advantage of this idea is that the process to get licensed and the work visa for a therapist last 2 years, so If the arrangement worked I would have the same au pair for 2 years.

The ammount of $280 a week already covers the school classes, the health insurance, the agency fees and the girl's salary. We still need to pay for car insurance, and provide room and board.

Now... I am not really sure a girl would want to come and look after kids that might be soooo stressful as foster kids.

The main reason I thought of this is because of the fact I dont need to worry about last minute placements, and price.

I live close to NYC and day cares here are very expensive.

I would not consider an au pair for 1 child, but for 2 I am not sure if the au pair wouldn't be cheaper than 2 child cares....

But I will for sure consider your points (which are very valid) and think more about it.

We are not starting the process in the next 1 year anyway, so for now we are just considering possibilities, taking decisions, etc...

Thank you!!

[sandrakassia]

AZ sun,

The subsidy in your state doesn't pay enough for the day care center?

I didn't know of that. I thought they were responsible for providing enough money for the day care for the parents who worked.

I went to an agency once to get papers and informations and they told me so (although sometimes if there is a shortage of foster parents, not sure if they are honest about everything).

thank you for the information anyway!!!

[sandrakassia]

AZ sun,

The subsidy in your state doesn't pay enough for the day care center?

I didn't know of that. I thought they were responsible for providing enough money for the day care for the parents who worked.

I went to an agency once to get papers and informations and they told me so (although sometimes if there is a shortage of foster parents, not sure if they are honest about everything).

thank you for the information anyway!!!

[suek5232]

i would be very careful with getting an au-pair from another country. I have done this 3 times with my adopted children, I had to learn the hard way. The last au-pair did not understand the past issues of one of my children, even though I tried to explain and teach in detail, and she reported me to CPS for the very things i had told her about the children. She had turned things around saying the children were acting out because of my parenting and not understanding it was a result of her past.