| WEAK ECONOMY LEADS TO STRONG DEMAND | | | | some major steps to help families in these tough |
| FOR AU PAIRS | | | | economic times. While other au pair programs and |
| More Working Mothers Looking for An affordable | | | | other types of childcare are raising their fees, we |
| Childcare Option | | | | are holding our prices at 2008 levels for 2009. We |
| FL February 06, 2009 -- One consequence of | | | | have also adjusted our payment plan and reduced |
| the current economic crisis is that more mothers | | | | the initial deposit so the upfront costs are more |
| are working. More new moms are remaining in the | | | | manageable. And, we will be offering greater |
| workforce and at-home mothers who had | | | | discounts to both new and repeat families |
| decided to put their careers on hold are having to | | | | throughout the year so many families will be |
| return to work. With an increase in dual income | | | | paying even less than they paid last year.” |
| households comes an increase in the demand for | | | | Claudette Roehl, local coordinator for Cultural Care |
| quality childcare. | | | | in Tampa, has seen an increased interest in the au |
| In some cases, this rising demand is driving up | | | | pair program among local families. “If you |
| childcare costs. According to a recent report by | | | | have two or three children, there really is no |
| the National Association of Child Care Resource | | | | comparison. The cost of the program is about |
| and Referral Agencies, the price of child care is | | | | $320 per week and that’s per family, not per |
| rising faster than the average rate of inflation. | | | | child,” Roehl says. “Au pairs can provide |
| The report, which provides typical prices of child | | | | up to 45 hours per week of child care which |
| care in centers, reveals that over the course of a | | | | works out to be less than $7.50 per hour, |
| year, the average price of full-time center care | | | | regardless of how many children you have.” |
| increased an average of 6.5 percent, almost three | | | | Roehl also states that families are looking at more |
| times the rate of inflation and more than | | | | than just the costs. “In this current economic |
| increases in healthcare and college costs. Escalating | | | | climate people are looking for flexibility as well as |
| childcare costs is having the greatest effect on | | | | affordability. Cost conscious parents need to be |
| the nanny business. A recent Wall Street | | | | creative with their childcare solutions as parents |
| Journal article estimated that full time nanny hiring | | | | take on additional jobs or work longer hours.” |
| is down between ten to thirty percent. | | | | The au pair program is an attractive option |
| One childcare program, however, has been able to | | | | because it allows parents to set a schedule that |
| meet the growing demand for childcare with an | | | | works for them on a weekly basis, provides |
| affordable option for working parents. Cultural | | | | in-home care for their children and introduces |
| Care Au Pair is a childcare and cultural exchange | | | | children to other cultures. |
| program based in Cambridge, MA, that places au | | | | The Greenspan family recently turned to the au |
| pairs across the country including au pairs in | | | | pair program not only for the affordability but also |
| Tampa. Demand for au pairs is growing. Data | | | | for the flexibility and exposure to other cultures |
| from the U.S. Department of State, which | | | | that the program offers. Jill Greenspan, a real |
| regulates the au pair program, shows that nearly | | | | estate executive with three school aged children, |
| 22,000 au pairs came to the United States last | | | | says, “As our kids were getting older and our |
| year, up 44% from 2004. With hundreds of | | | | careers becoming more demanding, we needed |
| available, qualified au pairs, Cultural Care is able to | | | | more flexibility than our nanny could provide. Also, |
| meet the needs of families looking for quality | | | | having studied abroad and travelled internationally, |
| childcare. | | | | we recognize the importance of exposing our |
| “Although the demand for au pairs is strong, | | | | children to other cultures and languages.” |
| we understand that affordable childcare is an | | | | Local families interested in learning more about the |
| economic necessity for our current and potential | | | | au pair program can contact Roehl at |
| host families,” says David Fougere, President | | | | 813-494-3686 or visit additional information on |
| of Cultural Care Au Pair. “We have taken | | | | the Cultural Care Au Pair program. |