> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Organization brings culture to area homes
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Organization brings culture to area homes
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Michelle Longey is the new area director for AuPairCare, a child care and cultural exchange organization. Reminder Publications photo by Lori Szepelak
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By Lori Szepelak
Reminder Correspondent
WEST SPRINGFIELD At only two, Kelley Calvillo of Longmeadow is learning conversational Spanish on a daily basis, much to the delight of her parents Justin and Katie Calvillo.
Monica Gomez-Moya, 24, of Mexico, is Kelley's au pair and was selected by the Calvillos through AuPairCare, a child care and cultural exchange organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of State for placing qualified young people from around the world with American families. Michelle Longey of West Springfield was recently named the area director for AuPairCare.
"I have always been interested in cultural exchange and international relationships," said Longey during an interview in her home. "Having an au pair is a wonderful mix of cultural exchange and child care for families."
Longey noted her educational background in International Studies and her business background in Marketing Communications has been a plus in her new role that provides continual support for area host families and their au pairs, as well as educating interested families on AuPairCare's programs.
"During my final year at Mount Holyoke College, I lived with a family and in exchange for room and board, I watched their children after school and some nights," said Longey.
After graduating from Mount Holyoke, Longey moved to Germany and attended the University of Cologne for one year. Once back in the states, she and her husband Andrew spent some time in Colorado before settling back in Western Massachusetts to raise their family. They are now the proud parents of Emilia, 6, Seth, 3, and Christine, 19 months.
"I can relate to both the host families and the au pairs," added Longey. "I know how important it is to have reliable, trustworthy child care. I also know what it is like to live with another family and how it feels to move to a foreign country, struggle through the language barrier and be in awe of the whole experience."
For Katie and Justin Cavillo, they knew their busy work lives would make juggling the schedules of child care facilities difficult, so they turned to AuPairCare as an option.
"AuPairCare is great," said Justin Cavillo during a phone interview, noting that Kelley has someone who is attentive to her needs, and Monica also benefits with the cultural exchange.
"Once you get past the first two months of transition for everyone, it can be a wonderful experience," he said, adding, "AuPairCare takes a lot of care so that expectations from all participants are met."
Longey echoed those sentiments, noting that all au pairs have previous documented child care experience, speak conversational English, have passed a background check and interview process with both AuPairCare and their overseas affiliate, are in good health and have completed secondary education. Additionally, au pairs attend AuPairCare Academy where they receive training in child development, household safety, cultural differences and CPR.
Au pairs offer up to 45 hours per week of child care, providing families with a culturally enriching and secure form of live-in child care in return for the opportunity to live with an American family and become immersed in American culture.
"There are so many aspects of the job that I like," said Longey. "I like meeting the host families and also meeting with the au pairs once a month at our social events. It also provides an excellent opportunity to work from home, work for an amazing company, and work with and meet wonderful families and au pairs."
Longey said one of the many benefits of au pair care is it is affordable, at around $300 a week and there is no additional cost for more than one child. Other "amazing benefits" according to Longey range from personalized child care within the comfort of your own home, flexible schedules to meet a family's needs, and assistance with child-related household duties. Household duties can range from helping with meals, bathing, dressing, driving children to school, appointments and activities and cleaning a play room or a children's room.
Longey also noted one of the important aspects of the experience is the "unique cultural learning experience for everyone involved."
Once a family applies for consideration in AuPairCare, Longey conducts a host family interview.
"I need to meet all the members of the family, confirm both parents are U.S. citizens or green card holders, assess the suitability of the host family's home and the au pair's private bedroom, and educate the family about the program and Department of State requirements," she said.
During the interview process, Longey will learn the family's requirements and reasons for hosting an au pair, assess whether the family's needs are compatible with the au pair program, communicate realistic expectations of the program, educate the family about the selection process, review the host family agreement, and contact two references.
Once the family has been accepted into the program, Longey said the matching process can begin and can routinely take a minimum of five weeks.
For the Calvillos, the AuPairCare process was very "accommodating," from their first au pair experience with Cecilia of Ecuador, to Monica Gomez-Moya who has been with their family since November.
"Since we expect our family to grow, we can't imagine life without au pairs from AuPairCare," said Justin Cavillo.
Longey noted that not only does she have an opportunity to bond with the family members and au pairs, but monthly social gatherings for all nine families in Western Massachusetts allow all of the au pairs and their respective "families" to get to know each other.
On Feb. 10, Longey will host a social from 1 to 3 p.m. at Magic Wings butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield for all of the au pairs and family members, and welcomes area residents who are interested in the program to stop in and talk to the families for their input. For interested individuals who are unable to attend the Feb. 10 affair, Longey will host a free informational program on March 1 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Richard Salter Storrs Library, 693 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow.
For more information on AuPairCare, call Longey at 363-2465 or contact her via e-mail at michelleapc@comcast.net to register for either the Feb. 10 or March 1 events. For more details on the organization, visit www.aupaircare.com.
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> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Organization brings culture to area homes
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