Au Pair in America

Many of our Community Counselors across the United States have decades of experience supporting our host families and au pairs. Take, for example, Cindy Garruba, who has been on the team for an incredible 23 years! Her expertise and dedication to the program not only serve her well in her role as a a Senior Community Counselor, but also in her capacity as a Field Representative, where she assists with hiring, training, and mentoring new Community Counselors. "APIA fosters collaborative relationships between staff and the field. The company embraces our mission to bring the world together through ongoing training for the employees and the participants. The team is supportive and encourages everyone to reach out with questions, concerns and ideas. Working with Au Pair in America has been a truly rewarding experience for me." We thank Cindy for her dedication to our program, team, and participants! #staffspotlight #aupairinamerica #aupairprogram #culturalexchange

Talk Derby to me! Yesterday I had the honor of attending HopeKids Kansas City's annual Derby Party. Au Pair In America was a Run for the Roses Sponsor. I'm so glad that I work for a company who values families and their desire to manage all of what life has in store (whether that be life threatening medical conditions or work-life balance). #apia #hopekids #aupair #localchildcare #kansascity

Many thanks to Senator Chris Murphy for recognizing AIFS and the importance of the au pair program in the Congressional Record! Au Pair in America is proud to be part of the AIFS family of programs and the organization's impactful legacy.

Spotlight on: Denise Eliopoulos! Since 2002, Denise has been a pivotal member of the Au Pair in America team, providing program support to her cluster in New Jersey and guidance to field staff across the United States. "As a Community Counselor, I work with au pairs and host families to help support them throughout their match. As a Field Representative, I assist in hiring and training Community Counselors, as well as presenting a webinar series for our host families." Denise is an advocate for the au pair program, sharing, "Lifelong relationships between au pairs and host families are created through participating in this cultural exchange program." We're so glad to have dedicated, passionate team members like Denise on our team! #aupairprogram #staffspotligh #meettheteam #aupairinamerica

Spotlight on: Rieke Folkerts! Rieke has had quite a journey with the Au Pair in America program. She joined our community as an au pair in California in 2019, and upon returning to Germany after her exchange ended, she joined our colleagues there to serve as an au pair Interviewer. She recently arrived in the United States to participate in an internship at our headquarters, facilitated by AIFS Professional Pathways. Rieke shares, "In my role as an interviewer, I engage with au pairs throughout their application process. I offer guidance on what to do and what to avoid, providing valuable insights into the process. I'm always eager to share my own experiences as a former au pair to enrich our conversations. Additionally, I participate in recruiting au pairs at events and conduct presentations to inspire and introduce young people to our program. As an intern at the US office, my main focus is on developing au pair engagement strategies. Recognizing the importance of engaging with Gen Z individuals, I strive to connect with applicants through digital media platforms, meeting them right where they are." We're thrilled to have a true champion for cultural exchange in Rieke on our team! #staffspotlight #aupairinamerica #exchangeprogram #intled

Exciting news! The Au Pair in America Conference is just around the corner! In just 20 days, our US and International teams will gather in vibrant San Diego for three days packed with training, networking, and festivities. We kick off with a special reception honoring AIFS's 60th anniversary! We're eager to reunite with our community counselors, international partners, and global staff. Stay tuned for event highlights! 🎉 #AuPairConference #AIFSTurns60 #SanDiegoBound #intled #internationaleducation #culturalexchange #exchangeprogram

I couldn't shake off this beautiful video out of my mind once my incredible smart, talented colleague/friend Karen Brown posted it a while back. 💖 This video perfectly captures the essence of hosting an au pair. It's not just about their invaluable help with childcare duties or their assistance during those hectic moments when dinner isn't ready and time is running out. It's about the profound connection they form with their host families, especially with the children. Hosting an au pair is an experience that transcends words on paper; it's a beautiful journey of love, learning, and shared moments that last a lifetime. 👩👩👧👦 💕 #HostFamily #Childcare #CulturalExchange #aupair #aupairinamerica #family #boise #meridian

Spotlight on: Diane Wallace! Diane has been on the Au Pair in America team for an incredible 26 years. As a Senior Community Counselor, she supports host families and au pairs in her Northern Virginia cluster. As a Senior Field Representative, she helps train and support a strong team of other Community Counselors in a large regional territory covering Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Diane shares, "The best decision I ever made was to join Au Pair in America in 1998. My life has been enriched by the many program participants that have passed through my cluster for the last 26 years, my colleagues (several who were former au pairs in my cluster), AIFS staff in the US and around the world and our international partners. Being a Community Counselor is a truly unique and rewarding position and it is never boring!" #meettheteam #aupairinamerica #communitycounselor #exchangeprogram #ourteam #fieldstaff #communityrepresentative

30 Jahre Mitglied bei IAPA - International Au Pair Association – dafür wurden wir gerade gemeinsam mit unseren Kolleginnen und Kollegen von Au Pair in America geehrt. 🎉🏅 Die International Au Pair Association setzt sich weltweit für das kulturelle Austauschprogramm ein und bietet Richtlinien und Orientierung für Au Pairs, Gastfamilien und Regierungsstellen. Sie dient als Stimme der globalen Au Pair Community und wir sind sehr stolz schon so lange Mitglied zu sein. Mehr Infos zu unserem Au Pair Programm in aktuell fünf Destinationen gibt's hier: https://lnkd.in/eUWJtih2 #aifs #aupair #internationalaupairassociation #iapa

Au Pair in America team members were thrilled to participate in #AdvocacyDay in Washington, DC last week alongside colleagues from other AIFS programs! Our collective efforts have such a monumental impact. We hope you'll join us in continuing to advocate for the au pair program and cultural exchange opportunities at large — onward!