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Archive for January, 2010

Results of Fall 2009 Host Family Survey!

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 27, 2010

The results are in!

The results from the 2009 Host Family Survey are in … and the consensus is that our host families are overwhelmingly happy! To share a few of the stats:

- 96% of host families are satisfied with the quality of childcare that their au pair provides
- 95% are satisfied with the support provided by their Local Childcare Coordinator
- 97% are pleased with the choice they made to use the services of Cultural Care Au Pair
- 96% would recommend the services of Cultural Care Au Pair to other families

Thank you to our current host families for participating and for helping us to further improve our program! Host family feedback gathered through our customer satisfaction survey has contributed to several changes at Cultural Care Au Pair including an improved host family and au pair matching process, increased new and repeat host family discounts, new payment plan options, and better online and phone support for host families. In addition, host families are able to provide direct feedback to senior management at face to face meetings held throughout the country, and they may participate in an online forum (www.community.culturalcare.com) created just for program participants.

We’re thrilled with these results, which are certified by independent survey company Discovery Surveys, Inc. In fact, our participation rate (52% of active host families this time around) and the results themselves have improved each of the four times we have administered the surveys (spring and fall of 2008 and spring and fall of 2009). For more detailed survey information, visit our website.

2010 Coon Rapids Snowflake Days January 30 - February 13

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 21, 2010

Bring the whole family and enjoy various events throughout the week!  Events include a Medallion hunt, brunch, snow sculpture contest, children’s carnival, talent contest, dance, and much more!  Visit the link for more information!

http://www.snowflakedays.com/index.htm

Snow Day at Wargo Nature Center

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 21, 2010

The Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department is having its 10th annual Snow Day event on January 30th from 1-4 p.m. at the Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes, MN.  Featuring snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, live animal displays and crafts.

http://www.anokacountyparks.com/programs/se_snowday.htm

December Meeting - Cookie Day! Yumm!

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 21, 2010

Thanks for joining us for our December Cookie Decorating Party!  There were some fabulous creations and I was very impressed by the creativity of the group.  At one point I commented that it was very quiet in the room, I was told it was quiet because they were concentrating on their cookies![

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Three Ways to Match!

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 21, 2010

Finding the perfect au pair made easy
Cultural Care Au Pair offers 3 Ways to Match
Cultural Care Au Pair host families now have the ability to review even more applications and au pair profiles with our new 3 Ways to Match, a program feature that let’s host families select the style of matching that best suits their needs. Host families can now search through multiple candidates on their own timeframe, set an appointment for a consultative matching session or work one-on-one with a placement manager who carefully selects possible matches. Best of all, our 3 Ways to Match allows you to enjoy the benefits of all three matching styles to help you find the right au pair for your family.

To get started
Whether you’re a new family to Cultural Care Au Pair or have already hosted an au pair, our 3 Ways to Match makes it easy for you to begin reviewing au pair candidates right away. Simply fill out your new or repeat application. Once it’s processed, you can log into your account and begin matching. Here’s how it works:

Personalized, exclusive matching
Enjoy the benefits of our trademark one-on-one matching. Your placement manager will select carefully screened applications for you to review based on your family’s unique needs. Each au pair is exclusively reserved for your family’s review, which means no two families are contacting the same reserved au pair candidate at the same time.

Consultative matching
Review our pool of au pair candidates in real time by setting up a consultative matching appointment by phone with your placement manager. This highly effective method allows you to carve out time with your placement manager to review available candidates who are not being reviewed by other families. At the end of the appointment, you have the opportunity to have up to three candidates maximum reserved for your family exclusively.

Search & Select
An enhancement to our current profile review system, this new feature offers families the ability to build a list of au pair profiles available for review. Families can narrow the search field and request, for example, a driver, a second year au pair or someone available now. If you find a candidate of interest to you, you may add the au pair to your list and notify your placement manager of your interest by clicking the Notify Placement Manager button. Your placement manager will review your suggested matches and place up to three of those matches into your host family account for further review of their full application.

Sample & Save - try our 3 “Ways to Match” risk free
Now for a limited time only, host families who apply to Cultural Care Au Pair will have the opportunity to try our 3 Ways to Match FREE. New families who submit an application from January 1st to January 31st, 2010 and take an au pair into their home by October 22, 2010 will have the $275 au pair selection fee waived and a $225 program fee discount.

There’s never been a better time to begin your search for an au pair. For more information about our 3 Ways to Match or our limited-time-only $500 discount, contact your local childcare coordinator.

January New Host Family Specials

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 7, 2010

Cultural Care for the second year in a row is not raising thier program rates!  You can apply to the program now and pay the same program fees as 2008.

Current discount:

Apply online and pay a $75 application fee

Use the discount code PCNYP2010 and the $275 Final Selection Fee and $225 of your Program Fees will be waived for a $500 savings!

Offer valid until January 31, 2010

Community Wellness Day

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 7, 2010

The Community Education Department of Anoka Hennepin Schools presents

COMMUNITY WELLNESS DAY

January 23rd from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Coon Rapids Middle School, 11600 Raven St., Coon Rapids

FREE for the entire family - includes health and fitness information, Children’s book swap, activities for the kids and more.

go to www.anoka.k12.mn.us/communitywellnessday for more information.

January Au Pair Event

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 7, 2010

Snow Tubing at Elm Creek!

Au Pairs will be meeting at Elm Creek Park Reserves Winter Recreation Area on January 24th at 12:30 p.m.

We will go snow tubing from 1-3 so wear warm winter clothes, gloves, boots, etc. The cost for snow tubing is $12 per person.  You can also bring along extra money for concessions or hot chocolate if you want.  Friends and Host Families are welcome to join us - look forward to seeing you there.

Cultural Care Responds to Host Families and the Economy!

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Posted by: tkapaun on January 7, 2010
Getting an au pair is more affordable than ever
Our host families spoke, and we listened. The economy had an impact on everyone last year. Many families faced new financial challenges, but in the end, they still needed flexible, affordable childcare. As a result, Cultural Care Au Pair has created several new payment options that help lower the initial cost for welcoming an au pair into their home in the New Year. Along with this exciting new change, we are also keeping our prices the same for the second year in a row!

Now new families applying to Cultural Care Au Pair will have even more payment options available. Not only have we reduced our application fee, we have created several new payment plans for new and repeat families. As a result, they can continue to enjoy all the benefits they have enjoyed from Cultural Care Au Pair in the past - and even more!

Lower application fee, lowered payment plan options
How does it work? Now new families applying to the program will pay a $75 non-refundable application fee -a savings over our previous $350 application fee. Upon finding the right au pair, a $275 selection fee will be due so the au pair can finalize arrangements to come to the U.S. Offering this new payment structure not only helps secure the au pair for the family, it allows the visa process to begin moving forward.

In addition, families now have even more flexibility when it comes to making payments. On our regular payment plan, families now have the ability to pay the program fee 30 days prior to the au pair’s arrival, instead of upon selection of an au pair. This is great for families who select an au pair early, as it provides them with additional time to pay their program fee.

In addition, our Extended Payment Plan option now lowers the initial deposit to $2,395, plus a $200 payment plan enrollment fee. Families have the option of making a payment in three easy installments or they can log into their host family account at their convenience and pay weekly, bi-weekly or monthly - whatever works best for the family, as long as it’s within the Extended Payment Plan timeframe. Repeat and extension families enjoy all these flexible payment benefits as well, with the additional benefit of a waived application fee!

Along with keeping prices the same in 2010, and creating several new, lower payment plan options, we are also decreasing the cost for enrolling in our Extended Payment Plan, making it even easier to afford an au pair in the New Year. For more information about how to utilize these new options, contact me, your local childcare coordinator, and I will be happy to provide you with additional details about Cultural Care Au Pair’s exciting new payment options for 2010!