About Me

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Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Olive Branch and Southaven, MS, Tennessee, United States
My name is Kelcie and I am the local Area Director for AuPair Care in the Memphis and surrounding areas. I enjoy working with each of our host families and aupairs to ensure everyone is having a good experience with this unique and wonderful program!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Au Pairs spend their free time painting pottery and hanging out with friends from all over the world!


When you spend most days caring for children and running them around town to their different acitvities just as our local au pairs do, finding some time for yourself is always needed.  The au pair's  of Au Pair Care found it this month at Paint A Piece in Germantown.  We met and decided to try our hand at painting pottery for the first time and everyone who attended really loved it.  Many of the au pairs decided to paint a piece for the host mom knowing that Mother's Day was only a couple of weeks away.  Julia from Germany decided to paint a little piggy bank for her niece's arrival in a couple of months.  Thank you to everyone who came and I can't wait to see everyone next month!







Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch, Southaven, Mississippi ,nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets

Au Pairs learn the realities about the dangers of texting while driving


Have you ever talked on your phone while driving?  There is a good chance that your answer is yes, just as it would be for millions Americans.  Here is a bigger question, do you text while you are driving?  If you answered yes, please take a minute to learn about the many dangers surrounded around this topic.

I must admit that I am not an expert when it comes to driving safety however Shelby County Sheriff Lester Haynes is the leading expert here in the Memphis area.  Officer Haynes provided a group of local au pairs with an informative and impressive presentation focused on safety while driving at the Germantown home of Kelcie Phillips. 

Did you know that if you text while driving, you are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident?  With just this one fact alone, the au pairs found themselves asking many questions not only about texting while driving but more general driving safety questions that differ here in the United States from their home countries.

Anja Pawlik of Germany was stunned to find out that not all States have the same laws about talking on the phone and texting while driving.  Anja said, “In Germany, no one is allowed to talk on their phone at all.  If you are caught talking or texting on your phone for any reason, you will be pulled over and a ticket is written”.  Officer Haynes did a great job of explaining how laws are very different here in the US and encouraged the women to put their phones down while driving. 

Officer Haynes’ presentation also included some very graphic and startling video examples of what can happen when you are distracted while driving.  By the end of the presentation many of the au pairs, including myself, were in tears.  The videos showed vehicle destruction, horrible accidents where people were killed and even more heart breaking to all of us were the video clips where children were involved in the accidents.  Dani Obregon of Argentina was a few minutes late to the presentation due to an accident that occurred right in front of her car which involved two other vehicles.  She was very shaken up by this and Officer Hanyes explained how according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4 out of 5 accidents are due to driver distraction. 

Officer Haynes and I both gave examples of recent incidents in neighborhoods where children were almost hit and killed due to the speed of the vehicle and driver distraction.  Luckily no one was injured however it was a great reminder to the au pairs that they need to really keep their eyes on the road at all times, especially in their neighborhoods and when they have the children they care for in the car with them.

Au Pair Care knows and understands that child safety is a major concern for American parents, especially when they are considering child care providers.  One of the questions I get asked a lot is how can they be sure their au pair is well trained to ensure their child’s safety?

One of the ways we have decided to address this question is by introducing our new SafetyCare Training Program. This program provides all Au Pair Care au pairs with CPR and First Aid certification training by the American Heart Association – a major differentiator in the au pair space.  It also provides au pairs with enhanced safety training skills in the categories of driving, household and ongoing child care safety.

In closing, our SafetyCare Training program was very impactful for these young women and the last fact that Officer Haynes left us with was this, “Talking on the phone while driving is illegal in Memphis and Shelby County, and texting is illegal in the entire State of Tennessee”.  Think twice before you pick up your phone to talk or text while you are driving, I know I will from this point on!






Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch, Southaven, Mississippi ,nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Memphis area au pairs enjoy a night of NBA Memphis Grizzlies basketball!

Julia and Any of Germany, Mafe' of Colombia, Dani and Lucrecia of Argentina
While basketball can be enjoyed all over the world, there is nothing like NBA basketball in your own home town.  Several local au pairs from AuPair Care enjoyed a night at the Memphis Grizzlies game which was filled with good food, fellowshipping with friends as well as celebrating a big win for the Grizzlies.  This sport is not one that needs a lot of introduction to our visiting au pairs from all over the world yet is one that offered a relaxed atmosphere and some much needed girl time for these women.  Our au pairs spend much of their day caring for children of their host families and also attending classes at the University of Memphis.  During their free time the au pairs love getting out and exploring the City of Memphis.  Memphis has so many different options for these women to become engaged in and Grizzlies basketball was one way for them to let loose and have fun.
Prior to the game beginning, there was several swearing in ceremonies for a couple of our armed force agencies.  Dani Obregon of Argentina commented, “Kelcie, this is so interesting to watch and I love how everyone in American is so patriotic!”  It was wonderful to see these women not only engaged in the basketball game itself but also taking in the American cultural and asking questions as to why American’s do the things they do. By the end of the game, all of the au pairs were on their feet and cheering on the Grizzlies to their win over the Indiana Pacers.  What an amazing way to get their weekend started!








Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch, Southaven, Mississippi ,nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Au Pair Care Announces New Safety Care Training Program for the Leading Au Pair Agency in Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch, Southaven, Mississippi areas.

Summary: Au Pair Care’s new Safety Care™ training program provides all international au pairs with child CPR and First Aid certification training by the American Heart Association.

San Francisco, Calif. – Jan 10, 2012 – Au Pair Care, the leading au pair agency that provides affordable live-in child care services, today announced the launch of its new Safety Care™ training program, an enhancement that provides all au pairs with CPR and First Aid certification training by the American Heart Association and focuses on a rigorous curriculum dedicated to providing au pairs with practical safety skills. The Safety Care program takes place at the Au Pair Academy, a four-day mandatory orientation and training that all Au Pair Care au pairs undergo upon arrival in the United States. The program provides au pairs with enhanced safety training in the categories of driving safety and household safety, in addition to ongoing child care safety training.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 million U.S. children and adolescents suffer preventable injuries annually. A recent survey conducted by Au Pair Care also found that child safety is the number one concern for its American host families.

“The Safety Care program was created as a direct result of feedback from Au Pair Care’s host families, regarding what is most important to them,” said Heidi Woehl, vice president of Au Pair Care. “Child safety has always been a priority for Au Pair Care, and our new safety training enhancements and ongoing training initiatives will further educate and train our au pairs to be better and safer child care providers.”

As a member of the National Safety Council, Au Pair Care’s Safety Care curriculum incorporates best practices from the council regarding child and household safety. It familiarizes au pairs with American safety rules and regulations, as well as the cultural expectations of American host families. Through a variety of expert instruction, online training and interactive role-play, Au Pair Care au pairs will learn first-hand how to handle common safety issues and practice injury prevention techniques.
Key features of Au Pair Care’s Safety Care training program include:

Child Safety: CPR and First Aid certification training by the American Heart Association for all au pairs, making Au Pair Care one of the only au pair agencies to offer this training. Au pairs will also receive ongoing training throughout the year with monthly safety tips as well as practical child care safety advice.

Driving Safety: An online interactive driving course utilizing best practices from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the National Safety Council on how to follow U.S. driving laws and keep children safe while behind the wheel. Au pairs are also expected to hold a current international driver’s license.
Household Safety: Educating au pairs on basic household safety practices and emergency preparedness, including choking hazards, water safety, and what to do in case of a fire. The training offers au pairs the chance to participate in interactive scenarios to prepare for real life situations.

“As parents, our children’s safety is our number one concern,” said Jenni Frank, an Au Pair Care host mom. “Knowing that my au pair has gone through extra safety training and CPR certification with Au Pair Care helps reassure me that my kids will be safe.”

Au Pair Care matches American families with au pairs and offers two main program options to fit each family’s specific needs. The Standard One-Year Program provides dedicated child care and cultural exchange for one year. Au pairs provide up to 45 hours of child care per week chosen by the host family, not to exceed 10 hours per day. For families who are expecting or have a child under 12 months old, Au Pair Care offers the Infant Specialized Program, a longer training program focusing on infant sign language, baby massage techniques, games to stimulate infant mental development, and American parenting techniques. In addition, host families and au pairs who want to extend the au pair’s stay use the Extension Program, which provides up to two years of continuing child care. Families can extend with their au pair for an additional six, nine or 12 months.

About Au Pair Care
Au Pair Care is a leading au pair agency providing affordable live-in child care services to American families since 1989. Designated by the U.S. Department of State, Au Pair Care offers superior childcare to fit families’ unique needs. Au Pair Care has matched more than 40,000 au pairs with American families across the U.S. Au Pair Care is a division of Intrax, a family of organizations that provide a lifetime of high quality educational, work and volunteer programs that connect people and cultures. Intrax is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in 17 countries. To find an au pair to fit your family’s needs call 1(800) 428-7247 or visit http://www.aupaircare.com/.


Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch,  Southaven, Mississippi ,nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets

February Au Pair Care Promotion for new Host Families! Save $615 if you apply before February 29th!

 
  • Promo Code: SAVE$615
  • Savings: $75 application ($275 in savings) & $340 off program fees when family matches with an overseas au pair and selects the Family Friendly Payment Plan - this is a total of $615 in savings
  • Start date of promotion: Feb 9, 2012
  • Expiration: Feb 29, 2012
  • Eligibility: Offer valid for new host families welcoming an overseas au pair arrival & cannot be combined with other offers. To be eligible, families must apply by Feb 29, 2012 and must select the Family Friendly Payment Plan after matching with an overseas au pair.

 
Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch,  Southaven, Mississippi ,nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

AuPair Care launches a new Saftey Care Program along with HUGE savings on application fees!



Here are the January promotion details:

Promo Code: SAFE2012
Savings: $50 application ($300 discount)
Start date of promotion: Jan 10, 2012
Expiration: Jan 31, 2012
Eligibility: Offer valid for new host families welcoming an overseas au pair arrival & cannot be combined with other offers. Families must apply by Jan 31, 2012.

Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch,  Southaven, Mississippi ,nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets
Description: Au Pair Care
Description: Au Pair Care
Description: Au Pair Care - Safety Care Training Program
Apply Now and Save $300 on Safe, Reliable Childcare


Safety is a parent's number one concern, especially when your child is in another person's care. Does your caregiver know what to do in an emergency? Can they perform CPR and first aid? Are they enforcing the seat belt rule in the car? Worrying about your children's safety is part of being a parent, and when you leave your child in another person's hands, you want to know they can be trusted to keep your child out of harm's way.
Introducing Safety Care™ from Au Pair Care. It's a program inspired by Au Pair Care parents and designed with your child's safety in mind.
Our rigorous Safety Care™ training program includes:Description: http://ulm.intraxinc.com/rs/intrax/images/apc%20-%20logo%20-AHA.jpg
  • CPR and first aid certification training by the American Heart Association for all our au pairs
  • An online interactive driving course on U.S. driving laws and how to keep children safe while behind the wheel
  • Important household safety practices recommended by the National Safety Council, including choking hazards and water safety 
  • Ongoing safety education and training, including monthly safety tips reinforced by local Area Directors who provide 24/7 support throughout the program year
Find safe, reliable childcare for 2012 - apply to the Au Pair Care program for just $50* and start your search for a caring and trustworthy au pair.
Enter promo code SAFE2012 to save.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Local AuPairs enjoy an afternoon filled with holiday treats and a gift exchange with a twist!

Au Pairs enjoy a Holiday Party and Gift Exchange
Each month a group of local au pairs from Au Pair Care gather to spend time with each other as well as either participate in American traditions of the season or engage in general fun activities around the Memphis area.  Well, December proved to be no different when area au pairs met at the Germantown home of Kelcie Phillips, local Area Director with Au Pair Care, where they enjoyed festive holiday punch, cookies, pies and many other treats.  The au pairs also participated in a traditional gift exchange with a little bit of a twist.  Everyone had a wonderful time and they also welcomed two new au pairs to the group, Any from Germany and Shana from South Africa.





 
Tennessee, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Jackson, Olive Branch,  Southaven, Mississippi ,nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets