You can't hire an au pair on your own. Every au pair in the U.S. comes through a sponsor agency designated by the State Department — so choosing the agency is one of the first real decisions you'll make.
The au pair program is a cultural exchange run under J-1 visa rules. A young adult, generally 18 to 26, lives with your family for a year and provides childcare, and a designated sponsor agency recruits candidates, handles the visa process, runs orientation, and supports both sides through the year.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
The agency supplies candidates and handles the program. Choosing the right young adult to live in your home — and setting the year up so it works — is still on you. Tammy has worked with au pair placements for years and has been retained as an expert in au pair matters, so she knows exactly where these arrangements succeed and where they break down. How to choose your au pair · The first weeks · When it isn't working.
One hour with Tammy before you commit to a year-long match.
$189
Screening call, reference questions, clinical interview, and trial-day checklist.
Download free ↓Questions first? Text (818) 308-1358 · info@caremapmethod.com
Tammy is not an agency and has no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any agency or program you use. She provides independent expert guidance; decisions remain your family’s. Legal, tax, visa, and licensing questions belong with the appropriate professional or agency.