Survey: If you are a DC Host family. Have you..

[Anonymous]

1-Called or emailed your councilmember
2-Called or emailed all councilmembers on the labor & workforce committee
3-Called no one, I will just deal with the consequence!
4-What are you talking about?

Please answer the survey (I was trying to create a real poll but it doesn't seem to work, please just answer in the comment section).

I feel like every time I talk to a council member staff it is the first time they are hearing about the au pair program lol, are we calling the people making decision or do we just want to vent here later about the end of the au pair program...

[Anonymous]

We have done 1&2

[Anonymous]

1 & 2. I just read somewhere that there are 400 au pairs in DC under the Visa program. That is fewer than I thought. The agencies really need to reach out to their families and let them know this is happening. There may not be enough voices to be heard.

[Anonymous]

I just received a note from my au pair company. I am going to email my councilmember.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I just got it from Cultural Care

[Anonymous]

Yes 1&2 for us as well. Surprised I have still not hear anything from APC.

[Anonymous]

I received a note back from Mary Cheh's office who said they shared my concerns with the committee handling the bill and asked how au pairs will be treated to which the staff responded that "they are still laying out their plans for the legislation, and although not committing to one any specific language, they are actively considering changes regarding au pairs." Sounded somewhat encouraging? The Cultural Care email says to contact Brandon Todd, as well. [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I received a note back from Mary Cheh's office who said they shared my concerns with the committee handling the bill and asked how au pairs will be treated to which the staff responded that "they are still laying out their plans for the legislation, and although not committing to one any specific language, they are actively considering changes regarding au pairs." Sounded somewhat encouraging? The Cultural Care email says to contact Brandon Todd, as well. [e-mail]

Yeah, Brandon Todd introduced this bill and I was not impressed to hear his office says that they have not thought about au pairs at all when writing the bill. NOW THEY KNOW!

I have spent lot of time talking with many council members staffs about this issue and it is encouraging because it is pretty clear they didn't think about au pairs and might welcome some guidance. However this is going to be a long process, the bill will not be scheduled for hearing until the fall (i was told) and from there it will take a few more months until something really happens.

If you want to get an update when the hearing will be scheduled, go to http://www.elissasilverman.com/join and sign up for her newsletter. She is the committee chair and send updates every month about upcoming hearing in her committee. I was told they usually announce it one month before the hearing. That is when we will really need to get involved, attend the hearing or send written testimonies if you can't attend the hearing.

You can also go here http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B23-0442 and subscribe directly to the bill website.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but lean on your particular Ward representative as well - as their staff. Ultimately, you live in their ward and you vote. It's not just about 500 au pairs - it's also their families, their kids, etc. Day-cares have long waiting lists. Full-time nannies are outside the reach of most of HF.

Ours is Brandon Todd. His legislative director Manny Geraldo wrote the bill:

Manny Geraldo
Legislative Director
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]

[Anonymous]

It would be great if the agencies would also organize and get letters from APs.

[Anonymous]

We have done 1 and 2. I assume the agencies are also doing things to work this out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have done 1 and 2. I assume the agencies are also doing things to work this out?

Ours seems pretty disorganized. I think agencies are focusing a lot of energy on MA, and like everyone else, overlook DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have done 1 and 2. I assume the agencies are also doing things to work this out?

Ours seems pretty disorganized. I think agencies are focusing a lot of energy on MA, and like everyone else, overlook DC.

What is your agency? I am with APC, not a word...

[Anonymous]

Called and emailed.

[Anonymous]

I heard back from Brandon Todd who "referred my concerns to his legislative director." Cultural Care is definitely aware and mounting responses and planning to dialogue with the Council- this is a nightmare for their business. DC is 400 APs to Massachusett's 1500, but that's still a lot considering that's essentially one city versus a whole state.