Helen Cook

“Mannies” or “Male Au Pairs”  …  Yes, Male Au Pairs make wonderful “mannies” or childcare providers for your children.   At Cultural Care Au Pair, approximately 5% of our Au Pairs are Male Au Pairs and here in the Lehigh Valley, we have five Male Au Pairs in our Au Pair Group.   Cultural Care Au Pair is one of only a few Au Pair Agencies that provide Male Au Pairs — a growing trend of childcare in the United States.    See what Susan Robinson - a Host Mom and Vice President of Cultural Care Au Pair — says about Male Au Pairs …

We love our “Mannies”!

Parents who host Male Au Pairs are quick share that their Au Pairs offer their family everything that Female Au Pairs do and more.  We are very proud of our male candidates! 

We are extremely proud to say that a Cultural Care Male Au Pair was named “2009 Au Pair of the Year” by the International Au Pair Association.  The winner is Francisco Ricardo Silva de Araújo Brazil.

 Lehigh Valley Au Pairs — Bring out your artistic talents at our March “Spring Egg Decorating” Au Pair Meeting!

Here are the Details:

     Date:       Sunday, March 21, 2010

     Time:      4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

     Where:    “Fellowship Hall” (Basement) of Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 535 West Emaus Avenue, Allentown, PA  18103 

We will be “decorating Eggs for the Springtime”.         Each Au Pair will have six eggs to decorate or color, etc. and we will have a contest and vote on the best or most popular decorated eggs.   Three prizes will be awarded!   We will have snacks and beverages.  You will take your decorated eggs home to share with your family!  You need not bring anything except a good attitude and fun!  Think Creatively!

  As a participant in the Au Pair program, Cultural Care strongly recommends that you consult with your tax advisor, accountant, insurance advisor and/or an attorney regarding any state or federal rules or regulations that you may be required to comply with when you host an Au Pair.  Unfortunately, Cultural Care is not in a position to provide such advice to our host families due to the variations in the law from state to state and to the individual circumstances of each host family.

If your employer requires taxpayer identification numbers, you should use the following:

• Your Au Pair’s social security number or ITIN, in reference to payments made directly to your Au Pair
• Cultural Care Au Pair’s Federal Tax ID number in reference to program fees paid to Cultural Care Au Pair.  Cultural Care Au Pair’s Federal Tax ID number is 20-2020345

As a general guideline, the following information might be helpful to your professional advisor or might be issues that need to be explored:

• Au Pairs are here on a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.  According to the IRS website, Au Pairs are exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes as well as Federal Unemployment Tax.
• Au Pairs are required to pay income tax with the exception of Social Security. However, depending on the time of year that the Au Pair arrives or departs, they may not make the minimum level of income required for taxation in that calendar year.
• The weekly stipend and the fees paid to Cultural Care may qualify as a tax deductible childcare expense.
• The IRS does not require host families to file Schedule H (Form 1040).
• Host families and Au Pairs may want to inquire about obtaining a social security number for the Au Pair.  In order to qualify for a social security number, the Au Pair must provide proof of her participation in the Au Pair program with a letter from Cultural Care.  In addition, they will need their passport, I-94 card and DS-2019 form.  Please contact me if you need assistance with this.
• We strongly recommend that you inquire with your professional advisor about specific state laws and requirements which may include, but not be limited to workers’ compensation insurance and state unemployment taxes.

Account statement
A statement/receipt of payments made to Cultural Care Au Pair is available in your online account’s Payment Center. Please contact your Program Director if you have any questions about payments made or credits owed.

Flexible Spending Accounts
Many employers offer their employees the benefit of a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), such as a Dependent Care Spending Account. You should determine if the program fees and/or au pair stipend qualify for your employer’s program.

Please note that this is intended to be a guide only and is in no way an exhaustive list of the issues you should explore nor is it intended to be legal or tax advice.

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s mission to break down barriers of culture and language through educational exchange, a group of local childcare coordinators and staff recently visited South Africa to see firsthand the difference the donations from the Cultural Care community have made through our charitable organization Kids First.

Since its 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 Helen Cook, Local Coordinator.   Our Lehigh Valley Au Pair Group will be sponsoring a Kids First event and/or meeting shortly to raise funds for this very valuable cause.

  Spring is almost here and now is a great time to secure your childcare by hosting a Cultural Care Au Pair.   Flexible and affordable childcare for busy families!   Childcare and Light Housekeeping — all for a  weekly cost of approximately $330 per week (or $7.30/hr.) (per family, not per child).

SAVINGS OFFERED MARCH 1 thru MARCH 31, 2010 IS $350 OFF OUR PROGRAM FEE .. for families that host an Au Pair by October 22, 2010.

Cultural Care Au Pair, America’s leading au pair agency, has hundreds of qualified candidates ready for immediate placement, so you can start matching today!

In addition to the largest pool of qualified au pairs, we offer:

• Three ways to match with potential candidates
• A “Peace of Mind Guarantee” - your family’s financial safeguard
• A Placement Manager to help you find just the right au pair for your family
• A Local Childcare Coordinator in your area to provide year-long support

In order to qualify for the discount, please call me at 610-797-5887 or via email (helen.cook@lcc.culturalcare.com) to discuss your specific needs and obtain your promotion code.   I am able to assist host families from the Lehigh Valley and all parts of the United States.

I have over 13 years experience helping busy families find the flexible and affordable childcare they need and it would be my honor to assist you thru the process.  I look forward to answering your questions!

Helen Cook

610-797-5887

helen.cook@lcc.culturalcare.com

     Lehigh Valley Au Pairs from Cultural Care Au Pair converged on Camelback Ski Mountain on Sunday — Over 100 Au Pairs from the Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia area spent a wonderful day skiing or snowboarding!   The weather was great and even the beginners never wanted to leave the slopes!  For more photos of the Ski/Snowboard Day - see Photos Page above.

  The Annual Cultural Care Au Pair Ski/Snowboard Trip to Camelback Area Ski Mountain will be held this Sunday, February 21, 2010.

The Lehigh Valley Au Pair Group of Cultural Care Au Pair will meet at 8:00 a.m. at The SunBowl Lodge (not the Main Lodge) and Cultural Care Au Pairs from the Philadelphia will arrive by bus at about 9:00 a.m.

This is the 10th consecutive year for Cultural Care Au Pairs to enjoy the Ski / Snowboard Day and approximately 100 Au Pairs participate in this great event — from Au Pairs that have never skiied or snowboarded to the most experienced skiiers or snowboarders who have grown up on skis/snowboards!  

Au Pairs from approximately 17 countries will participate in this event — and for many Au Pairs — this will be the first time that they have “really played in the Snow”!   

Be Safe Au Pairs and Have Fun !!!

  One of the challenges for some Au Pairs may be preparing meals for their host children, and not only meals that are easy to prepare, but good for them too!

Many of the recipes you will find here, courtesy of Discovery Health, contain healthy ingredients and are not too difficult to prepare — some items require very little to no cooking, so they should be easy for everyone!  If your children are old enough, get them to help!

Be sure to involve your Host Parents as well.  If there is something new you want to try, be sure to check with them first.   There may be food allergies, or a history of such things, and it could be very dangerous to introduce or even expose your host children to some food items; peanuts are a good example of this.  Some peanut allergies can be quite severe and could cause very serious health issues, so if you are not sure, ASK!   It is also helpful to ask, as some families follow special diets, like vegetarianism, for health or religious purposes.

Kid-Friendly Breakfasts

Kid-Friendly Lunches

Kid-Friendly Dinners

HAPPY COOKING

REMINDER:  The January Au Pair Meeting for the  Lehigh Valley Au Pairs be held on January 24, 2010.  We will all go “Ice Skating” (Indoor Ice Rink).   ”Steel City Ice Center”  is conveniently located on the south side of Bethlehem on the site of the historic Bethlehem Steel Company.  The location is easily accessible from Routes 22 or 78 via Routes 378 and 412.   Plenty of parking is available.  Here are the details:

WHERE:     Steel City Ice Center, 320 East 1st Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015

PHONE:     610-625-4774

DATE:       Sunday, January 24, 2010

TIME:         1:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.  (Lateness will count as a Non Attendance!)

COST:        $5.00 Per Au Pair (Includes Rental of Skates and Public Ice Skating)

We will have a private room for you to relax, have hot chocolate and snacks!   We will have a short CEP Safety Meeting and will be finalizing the Ski/Snowboard Trip Details (Ski/Snowboard Day is Sunday, February 21).

Procedure:   Come to the Steel Ice Center Building and go to the “Front Desk”.  Give the person at the Front Desk your name and she/he will give you a ticket for the rental skates.  Go to the Rental Area - gather your skates - and come to the Meeting Room (near the ice).  You will have 1 1/2 hours of skating time.  You will pay Helen ($5.00) in the Meeting Room (not to the Front Desk).

Please watch for more details re Ski/Snowboard Trip.  I WILL NEED YOUR RESERVATION AND MONEY FOR THE SKI/SNOWBOARD TRIP ON THIS JANUARY MEETING SUNDAY!!!   We will be completing the Rental Forms for the Ski/Snowboard Trip and please — if you can have your payment for the trip (correct amount if possible — it’s always hard to make change — cost of the Ski/Snowboard Trip announced in January Newsletter).

Looking forward to seeing all Au Pairs on Sunday, January 24, 2010 — Bring friends and/or other Au Pairs — all are invited!

Directions to the Steel Ice Center

From Route 22:
1. Exit onto the 378 South/Bethlehem exit.
2. Follow 378 South until the expressway ends.
3. Get into the left lane.
4. At the first light turn left onto 3rd Street.
5. Follow 3rd Street to the fourth traffic light.
6. Turn left onto Polk Street.
7. SIC is on the left at the end of Polk Street.
1. Exit 67 at Hellertown/Bethlehem.
2. At the end of the ramp turn right onto 412 North.
3. Pass Wendy’s on your left.
4. Continue to the third light and make a soft right to
  continue on 412. (412 becomes 3rd Street)
5. Turn right at the Polk Street traffic light. (Polk Street   is just after the Discovery Center)
6. SIC is on the left at the end of Polk Street.     

From I-78:

From the South:
1. Take 309 North through Coopersburg to 378 North.
2. Follow 378 North over the mountain.
3. At the bottom of the mountain you will see a McDonald’s on your left.
4. Go to the second light after the McDonald’s where you will see the Church of the Nativity.
5. Turn right at this light onto 3rd Street.
6. Follow 3rd Street to the fourth traffic light.
7. Turn left onto Polk Street.
8. SIC is on the left at the end of Polk Street.