The Au Pair's Sponsor?

The regulation also requires the program sponsor to file an annual report with the State Department. The report must include the following information:

· The results of surveys of host families and au pairs regarding their satisfaction with the program;

· Lists of complaints about the program, including actions taken in response;

· Copies of all promotional literature; and

· A report by a certified public accountant affirming that the program is complying with the procedures and reporting requirements of these regulations.

In addition to these requirements, sponsors have a number of other responsibilities in administering the au pair program:

· Au pairs should provide no more than 45 hours per week or 10 hours per day of child care. EduCare participants may provide no more than 10 hours per day or 30 hours of child care services each week. Au pairs must be given one and one-half days off per week, one full weekend off per month and two weeks of paid vacation per year;

· Au pairs must enroll in an accredited post-secondary educational institution for at least six semester credit hours or its equivalent, or 12 semester hours for EduCare participants;

· Au pairs may not participate in the program for more than one year; and

· Each host family must attend at least one “family day conference” to be given by the sponsor during the placement year.

In addition, sponsors must inform au pairs of their child care duties and what is considered unacceptable behavior. The sponsor must also provide the au pair with a summary of his or her travel arrangements and a detailed description of the host family, the community in which the au pair will live and the educational institutions in that area including the tuition costs.

Program sponsors must ensure that the au pair's compensation is at least the minimum wage set forth by the Department of Labor, with appropriate deductions for room and board. Participants in the EduCare program are to be paid 75% of the weekly rate paid to non-EduCare participants.

Program sponsors are also responsible for providing child care training for au pairs. Au pair program participants must receive at least eight hours of child safety instruction, of which four must be specifically infant-related.

In addition, they must receive at least 24 hours of child development instruction, of which no fewer than four hours must be instruction in the care of children under two years old. This child development instruction should include topics such as stress management and Shaken Baby Syndrome. Such training may be provided in the au pair's home country.