When we arrived the Captain and his crew of three, told us if there was an emergency call, they would have to leave. Twenty minutes into the presentation they were called to a medical emergency - off they went with sirens blaring.  It was an excellent, live demonstration for all of us!    Shortly after,  the Battalion Chief arrived, continued our safety education and then took us on a tour of the living quarters for the firemen.

When the crew returned they showed us the fire engines and equipment they have to tear open a crunched car, as well as put out a fire.  Most of their calls are actually medical emergencies and a paramedic rides on each call.

The training is part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s ongoing Continuing Education Program (CEP). As a U.S. Department of State regulated program, au pairs receive safety and childcare education throughout their year long stay in the United States, beginning with a week of intensive courses at the Cultural Care Au Pair school in New York.  Prior to attending this meeting, each au pair was asked to use information on the Santa Clara County Fire Department website to prepare a fire safety escape plan with their host families.

These are safety tips for local families:

• Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries once a year
• Make sure you have a fire alarm on every floor of your home
• Plan fire escape routes for your family and identify a meeting place outside the home in case of an emergency
• Keep matches, gasoline, and all flammable materials locked away and out of a child’s reach
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Introduce children to a firefighter, so they will know not to be scared in the case of a fire
• Avoid plugging several appliance chords into the same electrical socket
• Consider buying safety ladders for upper levels of your home and show older children how to use them

Fun Fact:  The fire station captain’s name is…  Captain Kirk !!  This was an extra draw for Star Trek fans!

Since it’s inception in 2004, Kids First has supported many worldwide organizations that work with at-risk youth. From the daycare center in Brazil to the school library in New Orleans to an orphanage in Russia, Kids First has supported a wide range of global organizations. Our most recent work at an orphanage and daycare center in a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown, South Africa is another great example of the work we are doing worldwide.

Cultural Care staff and LCCs had an opportunity to visit several projects funded through CHOSA, an organization that Kids First supports. CHOSA provides support to programs that work with at-risk children and their families to provide nutrition, medication, clothing, food, shelter and an education.

During the service visit, those who participated had a chance to visit the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center, which helps 150 children, some of whom are HIV positive. Donations received from au pairs, host families and Cultural Care LCCs and staff have provided funds for the building of a new structure for the infants and toddlers in the center. The group from Cultural Care Au Pair had an opportunity to see the new structure, meet the inspirational director and dedicated teachers and had some time to play with the children.

In addition, the group visited the Ilitha-Labantwana Place of Safety, the Philani Child Health and Nutrition Project, the Emasithandane Children’s Project and the Baphumulele Children’s Home. The Cultural Care team is now bringing their experience back to the U.S. to raise awareness, and additional funds for even more projects that Kids First supports.

“Our Kids First trip to Cape Town was truly amazing and inspiring,” says Local Childcare Coordinator Trudy Mar. “The work, effort, love and sacrifice the women heading up these projects give to all of the kids goes well beyond what most of us could imagine. If one little body sleeps better, eats better and smiles more, we’ve helped to change their future and make the world a better place. Every dollar we raise for Kids First definitely does make a difference.”

For information about how you can make a contribution to Kids First, or raise awareness for the programs it supports, visit http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/ or contact me, your Local Childcare Coordinator.

- 96% of host families are satisfied with the quality of childcare that their au pair provides
- 95% are satisfied with the support provided by their Local Childcare Coordinator
- 97% are pleased with the choice they made to use the services of Cultural Care Au Pair
- 96% would recommend the services of Cultural Care Au Pair to other families

Thank you to our current host families for participating and for helping us to further improve our program! Host family feedback gathered through our customer satisfaction survey has contributed to several changes at Cultural Care Au Pair including an improved host family and au pair matching process, increased new and repeat host family discounts, new payment plan options, and better online and phone support for host families. In addition, host families are able to provide direct feedback to senior management at face to face meetings held throughout the country, and they may participate in an online forum (www.community.culturalcare.com) created just for program participants.

We’re thrilled with these results, which are certified by independent survey company Discovery Surveys, Inc. In fact, our participation rate (52% of active host families this time around) and the results themselves have improved each of the four times we have administered the surveys (spring and fall of 2008 and spring and fall of 2009). For more detailed survey information, visit our website.

First, we used the “apple - peeler - corer - slicer” to prepare the apples. Several girls had a “turn” and it was a lot of fun. Then we made the oatmeal and brown sugar spice topping. Others tried their hand with the electric juicer to extract lemon juice. Viviana didn’t really want to try. I told her she would find it fun. Then she said, “Ok, just one.” Four lemons later, she let someone else have a turn. A little sugar, water and a few stirs to make fresh, refreshing lemonade.

While the apple crisp baked in the oven we played dominoes. I taught them a game called Mexican Train, which everyone enjoyed and hoped to play again. When the apple crisp came out of oven we served it up with ice cream and everyone decided it was a deeeeelicious! They all want the recipe, so my secret recipe has now gone international!

Now new families applying to Cultural Care Au Pair will have even more payment options available. Not only have we reduced our application fee, we have created several new payment plans for new and repeat families. As a result, they can continue to enjoy all the benefits they have enjoyed from Cultural Care Au Pair in the past - and even more!

Lower application fee, lowered payment plan options
How does it work? Now new families applying to the program will pay a $75 non-refundable application fee -a savings over our previous $350 application fee. Upon finding the right au pair, a $275 selection fee will be due so the au pair can finalize arrangements to come to the U.S. Offering this new payment structure not only helps secure the au pair for the family, it allows the visa process to begin moving forward.

In addition, families now have even more flexibility when it comes to making payments. On our regular payment plan, families now have the ability to pay the program fee 30 days prior to the au pair’s arrival, instead of upon selection of an au pair. This is great for families who select an au pair early, as it provides them with additional time to pay their program fee.

In addition, our Extended Payment Plan option now lowers the initial deposit to $2,395, plus a $200 payment plan enrollment fee. Families have the option of making a payment in three easy installments or they can log into their host family account at their convenience and pay weekly, bi-weekly or monthly - whatever works best for the family, as long as it’s within the Extended Payment Plan timeframe. Repeat and extension families enjoy all these flexible payment benefits as well, with the additional benefit of a waived application fee!

Along with keeping prices the same in 2010, and creating several new, lower payment plan options, we are also decreasing the cost for enrolling in our Extended Payment Plan, making it even easier to afford an au pair in the New Year. For more information about how to utilize these new options, contact me, your local childcare coordinator, and I will be happy to provide you with additional details about Cultural Care Au Pair’s exciting new payment options for 2010!

As the au pairs arrived I had paired them up to talk about what it was like to celebrate Christmas in their home country and what they treasured about the holiday. Then we gathered around the tree to take photos and enjoy a gift exchange. As each person chose a gift their au pair partner shared what they had discussed about the Christmas holiday. We learned about eating a huge meal and dancing salsa all night in Colombia, about special foods eaten in Germany and we jumped to a discussion about New Year’s Eve in Brazil. There, everyone dresses in white and walks to the beach. As they jump in the waves they make their New Year’s wishes. We thought that would be very cold to do here – but in Brazil it is the middle of their summer on January 1st!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Our November meeting will focus on helping others as we wrap gifts for Kids First Charity. Feel the holiday spirit! The event will take place at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in San Jose on Stevens Creek Blvd. Everyone has already signed up for the hours they will be at the bookstore to wrap presents. Contact me if you need a remind. Host families are welcome to join us - just send me an email!

“Kids First” is Cultural Care Au Pair’s charitable campaign intended to better the lives of children including: Casa do Zezinho in Brazil (after school program in the “death triangle” outside Sao Paulo - bottom photo), Ubulhe Babantwana (an orphanage near Capetown in South Africa - upper right photo) and St. Mary’s Academy (flooded school in New Orleans - center photo below). This will be our November au pair meeting.