Helen Cook

 I am Helen Cook and I have been the local Au Pair Coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair in the Lehigh Valley since 1997.   As the LCC for our area, the area has grown from grassroots to what is an active and close-knit Au Pair group of over 40 Au Pairs.   I truly enjoy the interaction, support and mentoring of the Host Families and Au Pairs in our area.    I try to support “Communication, Consistency, and a Caring nature” which are so necessary for success in the Au Pair Program and which, in turn, usually translates into a happy Au Pair, happy Host Family and, of course, the most important:   Happy and Cared For Children!

It is so enriching to help young men and women from all over the world arrive to the U.S. and to be their mentor as they experience new adventures, make lifelong friendships, adopt a “new American family”, and return better prepared for their life in their home country.  For the Host Families, I am happy to be part of a program where busy families have the flexible childcare they need and also see that the Host Parents and children mostly form a relationship with the Au Pair that lasts a lifetime.   All this — and I get to have the benefits as well by having “sons and daughters” all over the world!

Currently, in addition to “servicing” my Au Pair Group, I organize field trips for Cultural Care Au Pairs such as a) 1-day Ski trip in February; b) 3-Day Boston Trip in May; c) 1-day trip to Hershey Park in July; and d) 1-Evening trip to a Halloween Haunted Event in October!   There is always “something” exciting happening in our Au Pair Group!

While at Cultural Care – working from my home directly in the Lehigh Valley – I have served for four years as a member of the Advisory Board of Cultural Care.   I have achieved membership of the prestigious “Golden Heart League” of Cultural Care – one of the highest honors given at Cultural Care and honors the top 3% of over 700 coordinators for excellence in service, sales and compliance.   And – closest to my heart – in 2005, I was named “LCC of the Year” by Cultural Care – again signifying high honors in service to my Host Families and Au Pairs, sales, and overall excellence as an LCC for Cultural Care Au Pair! 

I have traveled to many of the countries from which our Au Pairs are selected — including Germany, Costa Rica, France, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden and most recently, our new office in China.  I have participated in Au Pair “Screening and Orientation Days” (interviewing of potential Au Pairs) in some of our recruitment countries and have gained valuable experience in this process.

My husband Herb and I are the parents of two sons who now have careers of their own and a daughter who predeceased us.  I am “native” of the Lehigh Valley.  Prior to becoming an LCC, I worked in Washington, D.C. and in the Legal Dept. of Mack Trucks, Inc. until retirement.   I hold a B.A. in Human Resources and Human Relations from Muhlenberg College and also a Para-Legal Certificate from the Para-Legal Institute, Washington, D.C. 

I like to ski, read, travel, crochet, serve as an active member of my Lutheran church and spend a lot of time “training” our new “baby” – our Cavalier King Charles!

Please feel free to call me – even just for general questions – at:  610-797-5887 (home) or email me at:   lcchelen@aol.com.    I always enjoy talking about the Cultural Care Au Pair Program and the wonderful young men and women – and Host Families – that I have been fortunate to meet over the years in my role as “The Lehigh Valley Au Pair Lady” for Cultural Care!