The Sunnyvale Sun

Cover Story

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

Bubble Boys: Au pair Angie Juarez helps Aidan Studulski, 3, blow bubbles while his identical brother, Connor, is distracted.

Foreign Assets

In-home care helps with daily routine

By Tiffany Carney

When Sunnyvale residents Carren and Steve Studulski found out they were having triplets, they knew they would to need an extra set of hands around the house.

The Studulskis explored their options and after much research and pricing comparisons, they decided on Cultural Care Au Pair.

CCAP is an international service that provides in-home, affordable child care along with an intercultural experience. CCAP started placing au pairs in American homes in 1989. CCAP is one of the five au pair programs regulated by the U.S. Department of State that caters to Northern California.

Their first au pair arrived two weeks after they returned home from the hospital. Ryan, Connor and Aidan are now 3 years old and have enjoyed the company of an au pair ever since.

Angie Juarez, 25, originally from Panama, thought the au pair program would be a great way to travel and learn English at the same time. Learning English in school is completely different than learning English in the United States, Juarez says.

According to Susan Wildeboer, a San Jose resident and local childcare coordinator for the area, an exchange visitor visa allows the au pairs to stay with a host family in the Unites States for one year. At the end of that term, the au pairs are given the option to extend their visa for six, nine or 12 months.

"Nine years ago a friend told me, 'You'd be perfect for this because you love people and you're interested in other cultures,' and she was right," Wildeboer says.

Originally, Carren Studulski said she would only need an au pair for the first year.

But they soon realized the extra help made their everyday lives much easier. The Studulskis are already planning to employ their third au pair.

"My husband, Angie and I are a good team," Carren says. "We work really well together."

Interested au pairs must be 18 to 26 years old and have previous childcare experience. They also have to be proficient in English and have successfully completed secondary education in their country, according to Wildeboer.

To become an au pair, an applicant must complete an extensive written application, answering questions regarding previous employment, schooling, cleanliness and personality, she adds.

The au pairs undergo medical and background checks as well as provide substantial references. Applicants are then observed playing games and interacting with others in their home country by CCAP staff.

When Studulski first heard about the au pair program, she was uncomfortable with the idea of someone she'd never met living in their home.

It came down to a matter of numbers. It was more cost-effective to have an au pair instead of a nanny or housekeeper, so they decided to give it a shot, she says.

Breakfast with the triplets starts off a typical day for Juarez. Ryan, Connor and Aidan play, bathe, then nap while Juarez tidies up their rooms. As the day comes to an end, Juarez helps Studulski with dinner. Together, the family shares responsibilities to make sure the day runs smoothly for the triplets.

Interested families also need to meet certain qualifications to host an au pair. They have to provide personal and professional references in addition to completing an in-depth, in-home interview with their local childcare coordinator. The family must fully understand that the au pair will live in their household and should be treated as a member of the family, Wildeboer says.

The CCAP program pairs a host family with an au pair according to their personalities, needs and lifestyles, and Wildeboer acts as a correspondent between the host family and au pair.

The Studulskis knew triplets would be a handful, so they requested someone who could be pleasant, multi-task and handle stress.

First-time host families must submit a written application detailing their specific needs and special requests. Those already hosting an au pair often refer new families to the program, Wildeboer says.

These requirements have to be fulfilled to ensure the safety and quality of care for the host family and the au pair, Wildeboer explains.

Busy families tend to request an au pair who can drive, while host families who speak Spanish at home often request an au pair from a Spanish-speaking country.

Juarez is teaching the triplets Spanish, and the Studulskis have enrolled in a Spanish course. They plan to continue speaking Spanish in their home after Juarez goes back to Panama in March.

Upon arrival in the United States, au pairs attend a four-day training session in New York, where they learn basics of American culture as well as child and household safety.

Marilee and Mark Adams, residents of Cupertino, decided to get an au pair after they found out Marilee needed surgery.

"We had an immediate need," Mark Adams says. "My wife was having surgery on her feet and wasn't going to be able to walk for six weeks."

They contacted CCAP and met Emma Andersson, a 21-year-old from Sweden, a week prior to the operation. The Adamses had nannies in the past, but thought they would give the program recommended by friends a try.

Eight-year-old Danielle, 4-year old Clay and 5-year-old Luke all enjoy having Andersson around the house.

"Emma is young and fun and loves to play sports," Adams says. "She is much more like a big sister to the kids."

After Marilee's recovery, the Adamses thought, "This is kind of fun, and it makes life much easier."

The Adamses have accepted Andersson into their family and have recently included her on family trips to Lake Tahoe and Disneyland.

The Adams family appreciates the extra set of hands and the flexibility that an au pair offers. Originally set to leave in September of 2006, Andersson filed an extension and will stay for another year.

Andersson has met different people, explored California and enjoyed spending time with the Adams family.

"When you come here, you develop yourself and become a stronger person," Anderson says.

In addition to working the required 45 hours a week, au pairs are also required to take two classes at a community college, paid for by the host parents' initial fees for the program.

The au pair is paid a weekly stipend of about $139 by the host family.

The program also includes an application and program fee, which pays for the transportation and training of the au pair. According to Wildeboer, the total cost breaks down to about $288 per week.

Wildeboer organizes events twice a year for host families and au pairs in her designated area. Once a month, she also hosts a required meeting for au pairs, allowing them to get to know each other and voice any questions or concerns they have with their family or the program.

Wildeboer says that with an au pair, any family can have affordable child care while encouraging the understanding an acceptance of other cultures and languages all at the same time.

"It is a cultural exchange program; it is not just child care," Wildeboer says.

For more information about the Cultural Care Au Pair program, visit www.culturalcare.com. Susan Wildeboer can be reached at Susan@CulturalCareCA.com or www.CulturalCareCA.com.