Au Pair Care’s new Safety Care™ training program provides all international au
pairs with child CPR and First Aid certification training by the American Heart
Association.
Au Pair Care, the leading
au pair agency that provides affordable
live-in child care services, today
announced the launch of its new Safety Care™ training program, an enhancement
that provides all au pairs with CPR and First Aid certification training by the
American Heart Association and focuses on a rigorous curriculum dedicated to
providing au pairs with practical safety skills. The Safety Care program takes
place at the Au Pair Academy, a four-day mandatory orientation and training that
all Au Pair Care au pairs undergo upon arrival in the United States. The program
provides au pairs with enhanced safety training in the categories of driving
safety and household safety, in addition to ongoing child care safety
training.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 million
U.S. children and adolescents suffer preventable injuries annually. A recent
survey conducted by Au Pair Care also found that
child safety is
the number one concern for its American host families.
“The Safety Care program was created as a direct result of feedback from Au
Pair Care’s host families, regarding what is most important to them,” said Heidi
Woehl, vice president of Au Pair Care. “Child safety has always been a priority
for Au Pair Care, and our new safety training enhancements and ongoing training
initiatives will further educate and train our
au pairs to
be better and safer child care providers.”
As a member of the National Safety Council, Au Pair Care’s Safety Care
curriculum incorporates best practices from the council regarding child and
household safety. It familiarizes au pairs with American safety rules and
regulations, as well as the cultural expectations of American host families.
Through a variety of expert instruction, online training and interactive
role-play, Au Pair Care au pairs will learn first-hand how to handle common
safety issues and practice injury prevention techniques.
Key features of Au Pair Care’s Safety Care training program include:
- Child Safety: CPR and First Aid certification training by the American
Heart Association for all au pairs, making Au Pair Care one of the only au pair
agencies to offer this training. Au pairs will also receive ongoing training
throughout the year with monthly safety tips as well as practical child care safety
advice.
- Driving Safety: An online interactive driving course utilizing best
practices from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the National Safety Council
on how to follow U.S. driving laws and keep children safe while behind the
wheel. Au pairs are also expected to hold a current international driver’s
license.
- Household Safety: Educating au pairs on basic household safety practices
and emergency preparedness, including choking hazards, water safety, and what to
do in case of a fire. The training offers au pairs the chance to participate in
interactive scenarios to prepare for real life situations.
“As parents, our children’s safety is our number one concern,” said Jenni
Frank, an Au Pair Care host mom. “Knowing that my au pair has gone through extra
safety training and CPR certification with Au Pair Care helps reassure me that
my kids will be safe.”
Au Pair Care matches American families with au pairs and offers two main
program options to fit each family’s specific needs. The Standard One-Year
Program provides dedicated child care and cultural exchange for one year. Au
pairs provide up to 45 hours of child care per week chosen by the host family,
not to exceed 10 hours per day. For families who are expecting or have a child
under 12 months old, Au Pair Care offers the Infant Specialized Program, a
longer training program focusing on infant sign language, baby massage
techniques, games to stimulate infant mental development, and American parenting
techniques. In addition, host families and au pairs who want to extend the au
pair’s stay use the Extension Program, which provides up to two years of
continuing child care. Families can extend with their au pair for an additional
six, nine or 12 months.
About Au Pair Care
Au Pair Care is a leading au pair agency providing
affordable live-in child care services to American families since 1989.
Designated by the U.S. Department of State, Au Pair Care offers superior
childcare to fit families’ unique needs. Au Pair Care has matched more than
40,000 au pairs with American families across the U.S. Au Pair Care is a
division of Intrax, a family of organizations that provide a lifetime of high
quality educational, work and volunteer programs that connect people and
cultures. Intrax is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in 17 countries.
To find an au pair to fit your family’s needs call 1(800) 428-7247 or visit
http://www.aupaircare.com.
