Old news - you can search for rematch au pairs yourself now, unless you're only looking for new out-of-country match.

Anonymous wrote:I respectfully disagree. The rematch au pairs can be searched for in their online system now, so it isn't just the LCs that are coordinating (and the fact that you use the term 'LCC' makes me think you're with another agency anyway). I've seen a lot of honest information when searching, including information that is not flattering to the au pairs. Sometimes they can't outright send an au pair home (if nobody was hurt or put in a dangerous situation) but you can see that the information they've included on their template is pretty darn honest and it's unlikely that au pair is going anywhere but home.

Respectfully, I call BS. APIA has forwarded women who text and drive, leave children unattended in cars, and who violate the drug policy under euphemisms like bad fit, lacks maturity, etc. Also, you only see rematches if they put them in your queue.

I respectfully disagree. The rematch au pairs can be searched for in their online system now, so it isn't just the LCs that are coordinating (and the fact that you use the term 'LCC' makes me think you're with another agency anyway). I've seen a lot of honest information when searching, including information that is not flattering to the au pairs. Sometimes they can't outright send an au pair home (if nobody was hurt or put in a dangerous situation) but you can see that the information they've included on their template is pretty darn honest and it's unlikely that au pair is going anywhere but home.

APIA has a real problem with forwarding au pairs to new situations who have had real lapses with judgment with HFs (drug use, smoking, working illegally, reckless car accidents). The rematch is coordinated through the LCC's and they lie like a rug, unfortunately. They seem to get paid per head for rematching which is horrible. If you can, match out of country.

Think of it as a romantic relationship. You had a hard breakup, a mediocre rebound, and are now ready to find love with a new person again.

It helped me to separate my total disgust with the agency from the individual candidates. At the heart of the AP program is young people who want to be in the States for a year and families willing to welcome them. There are good people in the world, and your family can have a great experience with an AP in spite of the Agency.

Our last AP was a serious problem, also for some issues related to lying and illegal behavior. When we went into transition, AP did get sent home, but we were also left feeling traumatized. We started to look at the rematch pool, and we just couldn’t. We realized we needed a breather, and we cobbled together some alternate care so that it will be five months between last and next AP. In that time we found a great out of country AP about whom we are really excited. I credit my renewed enthusiasm with the New AP, but mainly just taking the break has been so nice. I’ve gained some perspective, and I am cautiously optimistic about the AP program going forward.

I realize not all can do this, but it helped us. We are 7 years in with the program.

I understand what you went through.

Just do your best to welcome the new Au Pair. Just like you would want your own daughter to be welcome by a foreign family.

It is so tough to leave your family for the first time, going to a new country, live with strangers, start a new job ...
It feels really nice to feel welcome. I'm sure it'll be ok with your next AP.

Former AP.

I know someone who had a bad experience with her first au pair. Unfortunately, despite the best of intentions, they just couldn't stop themselves from bringing up the other au pair to the new au pair. The new au pair felt like she was not able to make any mistakes because she felt like the family was hypercritical. It wasn't necessarily true, but it was her perception. Just do your best to make this a truly fresh start. Even if it's completely justified, offering criticism or negative thoughts about the previous au pair isn't ever helpful because the new au pair knows nothing about her. Good luck.

As first time HF we had an au pair who at 5 months we discovered had lied on her application, engaged in some negligent and illegal behavior, and decided to rematch. APIA told us they were sending her home but passed her on to another family like a pedophile priest. We finished the year with rematch au pair who was competent but was at the end of her 2nd year and had to go home. Now we have a new au pair coming after a long interview process. We find it hard to get excited because we were so wounded by the behavior of the first au pair. We had invested so much in making our first au pair relationship work and trusted her so much - that it was really heartbreaking when it didn't work out. Tips? We know we have to buck it up and be adults and not punish the new au pair for the first one's errors in judgment.