Berkeley Parents Network: Au Pair Agencies

Berkeley Parents Network

Au Pair Agencies

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Childcare > Au Pair Agencies

March 2006

I am looking for a good au pair agency in the Bay Area. THe current postings are over a year old so anyone with more recent experience with an agency, I would love your input. Thanks! megan

Hi, I used Au Pair Care and have had a great experience. I actually first signed up with cultural care au pair and switched because I didn't like their matching process. Cultural care only lets you see one application at a time, they ''pick'' someone for you, and you don't get to browse thru applications. They kept sending me people I wasn't sure about. Au pair care lets you browse through all the applications so you get a better sense of who is out there. Also, with au pair care's matching process, the au pairs have more control over who they choose as a family, so I think its more likely that a good match will be made. In the end, I matched with a wonderful au pair, she has been here a year and will probably be staying a second. Also, Au Pair Care is local, based in SF.. That said, I know people who have also been happy with Cultural Care au pair, so its just a personal choice. good luck

I have used both Au Pair Care and Cultural Care Au Pair and I found them both to be good. I think the local representative from Au Pair Care is especially good. She is a mom and seems to be very knowledgable about issues that can arise. Au Pair Care also has a nice system where you can see everyone in their database and pick those au pairs you want to interview. Cultural Care just ''matches'' you with an au pair and you can't see who else they have in their database. But I don't think you would go wrong with either of them. anonymous

AU PAIR USA is a great option for a great au pair. All of the au pairs are pre-screened and tested for English language skills; and are trained in CPR, first aid and child development. You can look them up at www.aupairusa.org tracie.wold@comcast.net

Hi, I don't have a recomendation for a good Au Pair agency but would like to advise you to stay away from a specific one. I came to the US 8 years ago as an Au Pair with Au Pair in America agency.They don't offer much support for the family and none for the Au Pairs. Several girls I've meet have had a bad experience, such as the counselor not responding, not caring etc. I personally have had to change families due to the horrible situation I've been placed in and it took months of me complaining to my counselor to say that if I want to change families they would not be able to get anyone since it is a bad ''recomendation'' for an Au Pair to want to switch. My situation was not livable, and I ended up breaking my contract again due to poor care from the agency.(realy, it took over 4 months of me crying for them to even consider a change- the family never provided mediacl insurance for me and refused to pay for my college classes which is mandatory for Au Pair visas and usualy included in the agency contract). Again this is not a recomendation, but I just felt that if you are looking for a great Au Pair, you should also look for an agency that takes good care of you and them. anon

I recently used Au Pair Care which has a local San Francisco Office. I am pleased with my au pair who arrived from Mexico in January, but I have some words of wisdom about using an au pair agency if you care to hear them. If you have specific questions, please feel free to email me. Linda

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