The au pair industry is making changes in the way they market their businesses and how they allow consumers to access information online. Due to the deepening recession and the fierce competition for market share, au pair agencies are now forced into sharing more information with you, the consumer!
For example, we are seeing au pair agencies, like goAUPAIR, roll out innovative features, like their new Au Pair Review, that allows the consumer to view their au pair data base. Parents can view hundreds of available au pairs, waiting to match, without paying an application fee, signing a contract or completing a long, ardous host family application.
For the first time, au pair agencies are allowing unregistered parents access to information that was previously considered "confidential" and only privy to paying customers (host parents who applied and were accepted into their program).
goAUPAIR is not the only agency offering increased access to their au pairs data base - Au Pair in America and USA Au Pair both have user friendly and easy accessible pages of au pairs to view!
As the economy forces parents to spend less on childcare, au pair agencies are getting hit hard - this has forced the industry to "rethink" their marketing strategy and how they operate overall. As a result, innovative programming and marketing plans have been rolled out - allowing any parent to view their au pair data base is a major change for au pair agencies! This is good news for the consumer - you can view what kinds of young women are attracted to each agency and you get a "feel" for the quality and level of screening the agency is doing.
For example, Au Pair in America now allows any parent to view their available au pairs waiting to match (in the past, you not only had to complete a lengthy application, pay a hefty application fee, and send in multiple letters of references, but you had to pass muster during a face-to-face, hour long interview where a counselor screened you). Now, you only have to provide your name, address and email address to view hundreds of au pairs!
When viewing Au Pair in America's data base of Chinese au pairs (they are the largest recruiter from China), we noticed that the majority of Chinese au pairs are not going to be good drivers - most of them received their license in the past 6-12 months, even when the ages were over 23. This means the girls were not driving until they decided to apply to the cultural program and travel to America to become an au pair.
So, as you view the data base, you can also make an informed and intelligent summations of the quality of their recruits based on driving experience, English skills and childcare experience. However, you are not getting access to the entire application - only a "snapshot" of the au pair's most basic demographics. Compared to 12 months ago, you had to sign up, pay an application fee, get interviewed by their local counselor, and get approved before you could see anything about any au pair!
Understanding how busy parents are today, Au Pair USA recently introduced the 10-Minute Online Application! Now, that is customer oriented - in the recent past, applying online was very time consuming and you also had to send in a host letter, photos and 3 references. For busy parents with hectic schedules, this was always a hassle! Now, you get right on and into their system, dramatically decreasing your waiting time for your au pair's arrival.
Things are quietly and dramatically changing in the au pair industry, and as a result of our struggling economy, au pair agencies have been forced to "reinvent" themselves. They are sharing more information with the consumer and this is great news for any parent who is thinking of using an au pair for their childcare needs! Information is still the leading factor in the consumer's decision to purchase any goods or services. This means more services and benefits for you, the consumer.
Showing posts with label aupairs and shaken baby syndrome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aupairs and shaken baby syndrome. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Do's and Don'ts When Considering an Au Pair
Summer is a busy month for host parents, as the majority of them are looking for replacement au pairs and new host families sign up during this time.
It is important for all prospective host parents to carefully consider the decision to host an au pair who will be taking care of their children. If you have very young children, it becomes even more important to choose an agency that has an excellent track record of screening their au pairs and completing background checks, including criminal checks.
A review of the Do's and Don'ts:
DO choose an agency from one of the 12 Department of State regulated au pair agencies
DO interview the agency, their office and the local LCC or counselor before you sign the contract
DO interview any prospective au pair thoroughly! Call and speak to her at least 4 times by phone
DO review the au pair's application carefully and call each reference. Check and make sure the references include other people besides her family!
DON'T choose an agency without reading all you can about them. Go online and check the insiderpages.com and complaintboard.com and read all commentary from parents who have used any agency in the past.
DON'T allow the agency to pressure you into considering applications where the au pairs cannot drive and have poor English skills! Get tough with the agency and you tell them what YOUR needs are. If they cannot or will not meet your family's needs, move on!
If you are in the process of finding an au pair this summer, please read our Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Hosting an Au Pair at www.aupairclearinghouse.com!
It is important for all prospective host parents to carefully consider the decision to host an au pair who will be taking care of their children. If you have very young children, it becomes even more important to choose an agency that has an excellent track record of screening their au pairs and completing background checks, including criminal checks.
A review of the Do's and Don'ts:
DO choose an agency from one of the 12 Department of State regulated au pair agencies
DO interview the agency, their office and the local LCC or counselor before you sign the contract
DO interview any prospective au pair thoroughly! Call and speak to her at least 4 times by phone
DO review the au pair's application carefully and call each reference. Check and make sure the references include other people besides her family!
DON'T choose an agency without reading all you can about them. Go online and check the insiderpages.com and complaintboard.com and read all commentary from parents who have used any agency in the past.
DON'T allow the agency to pressure you into considering applications where the au pairs cannot drive and have poor English skills! Get tough with the agency and you tell them what YOUR needs are. If they cannot or will not meet your family's needs, move on!
If you are in the process of finding an au pair this summer, please read our Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Hosting an Au Pair at www.aupairclearinghouse.com!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Economic Downturn Linked to an Increase in Child Abuse
Economic Downturn Linked to Increase in Child Abuse?
March 2009: In Boston, safety advocates warn cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are rising and pleaded with lawmakers not to cut funding for the education and prevention of this deadly form of child abuse.
Dr. Deborah Eappen, whose son, Matthew, was killed by the British au pair Louise Woodward 10 years ago, said she was concerned the current economic downturn will burden families and cause stress between parents and children, leading to domestic violence. “Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome is the way to go,” said Eappen. “It's like an immunization against child abuse.”
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, who prosecuted the high-profile Louise Woodward train, said, “It’s a decade after Matty Eappen was killed -- shaken and slammed to death -- and we’re still here talking about shaken baby syndrome and shaken impact syndrome as being a prominent and prevalent form of child abuse.”
Apparently, cases of the brain injury known as Shaken Baby Syndrome have increased in the past few months, a spike that Massachusett's child abuse specialists say may be linked to families' depressed economic situation.
Research has shown a relationship between increased family stress and domestic abuse where the more stress a family experiences, the more vulnerable the children are to incidents of abuse.
Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is violently shaken, causing the brain to hit against the sides of their skull, causing neurological injury that can lead to life-long mental and physical disabilities or death.
You can view Dr. Eappen and District Attorney, Gerry Leone, plead with Massachusett's lawmakers not to cut the state's $350,000 budget alloted for Shaken Child Syndrome: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/18969408/index.html.
Caution: If your infant is cared by an au pair, who is typically young, often
inexperienced, make certain you educate her about Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Tell her,"Never Shake the Baby!" under any circumstances. Tell her what can happen - she may not know she can cause neurological damage to the baby or even death.
March 2009: In Boston, safety advocates warn cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are rising and pleaded with lawmakers not to cut funding for the education and prevention of this deadly form of child abuse.
Dr. Deborah Eappen, whose son, Matthew, was killed by the British au pair Louise Woodward 10 years ago, said she was concerned the current economic downturn will burden families and cause stress between parents and children, leading to domestic violence. “Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome is the way to go,” said Eappen. “It's like an immunization against child abuse.”
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, who prosecuted the high-profile Louise Woodward train, said, “It’s a decade after Matty Eappen was killed -- shaken and slammed to death -- and we’re still here talking about shaken baby syndrome and shaken impact syndrome as being a prominent and prevalent form of child abuse.”
Apparently, cases of the brain injury known as Shaken Baby Syndrome have increased in the past few months, a spike that Massachusett's child abuse specialists say may be linked to families' depressed economic situation.
Research has shown a relationship between increased family stress and domestic abuse where the more stress a family experiences, the more vulnerable the children are to incidents of abuse.
Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is violently shaken, causing the brain to hit against the sides of their skull, causing neurological injury that can lead to life-long mental and physical disabilities or death.
You can view Dr. Eappen and District Attorney, Gerry Leone, plead with Massachusett's lawmakers not to cut the state's $350,000 budget alloted for Shaken Child Syndrome: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/18969408/index.html.
Caution: If your infant is cared by an au pair, who is typically young, often
inexperienced, make certain you educate her about Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Tell her,"Never Shake the Baby!" under any circumstances. Tell her what can happen - she may not know she can cause neurological damage to the baby or even death.
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