Better, improved , more efficient and less expensive way to stay in touch overseas with your AP
Dear Host Families, cultural care AP is bringing more convenient way of connecting overseas with your future APs .Please read Below: Over the last few years, Cultural Care Au Pair has offered to host families a trial complimentary service of connecting calls overseas to prospective au pairs and references. Unfortunately, it has become cost prohibitive to continue to offer overseas connections as a complimentary service due to rising telecommunications costs. We recognize, however, that the convenience of having staff at Cultural Care connect calls for significantly less than it would cost the host family is still a tremendous value for those who utilize this service. Therefore, on February 1, Cultural Care Au Pair will begin offering the sale of Overseas Connection Packages that allow host families to connect with au pair candidates and their references while in the matching process. We will continue to offer one complimentary call per matching cycle so that families can experience the benefits of connecting with Cultural Care. All additional overseas connections will be available for a reasonable fee. Cultural Care makes connections easy: Host families have many options when choosing to place their international calls to au pair candidates. Some reasons they may choose our services are: * We’ll place the call for them and get the au pair on the line * We can help set up a time to call their au pair and make an “appointment” for a connection * We can conference in a spouse in another location * Families can talk for as long as they want and not worry about the cost (the standard interview is approximately one hour) * Families can call as often as they want, a chance to really get to know the au pair * Some people are very anxious about international calling * We are the only au pair program that offers overseas connections of any kind Host families have a choice: Unfortunately, rising telecommunications costs, and the increasing number of calls that we connect to cell phones, have made it cost prohibitive for us to connect all overseas calls for free. Calls to cell phones cost twice as much as calls to landlines. In addition, there is great disparity in the use of our connection services among host families – while some families use our services for every call they make to au pair candidates, many families never call us to be connected. Rather than raising the program fee for all families to accommodate the rising costs of making connections, we have decided to offer our services, at a charge, to host families who would like the opportunity to be connected through Cultural Care. Basic and Plus packages: We will offer two Overseas Connection Packages: Basic and Plus. The Basic Package includes unlimited calls to au pair candidates during the matching cycle. The Plus Package includes unlimited calls to au pair candidates during the matching cycle as well as unlimited calls to references and interpretation services for references. Families wishing to call a non-English speaking reference will now be able to do so through an interpretation service to which we will connect them! Cost: The Basic Package is $150 and the Plus Package is $250. When compared to international calls from a home phone using a common telecommunications carrier, these prices are quite reasonable. We have posted a cost comparison on InfoSource which gives an example of the costs of international calling during a typical matching cycle. Program begins February 1st: We are launching this program to all families (new and repeat) who apply on or after February 1st. Families who have applied before February 1st and are currently in the matching cycle are “grandfathered in”. This means they are eligible to receive complimentary overseas connections. Families going into transition after March 1st will have to purchase an Overseas Connection Package if they would like Cultural Care to connect their calls. IMPORTANT Points to remember: o Host families receive one complimentary connection per matching cycle: From when they apply to when they final they can have one complimentary call. o Once they purchase one of the Overseas Connection Packages: The Host Family make unlimited connections with their au pair matches. o The packages are non-refundable. o Host families can purchase an Overseas Connection Package on line or through a staff member by calling 800-333-6056. To purchase on-line, host families can visit our on-line store at http://store.family.culturalcare.com . The Overseas Connection Packages will be listed there on February 1st. There are many services available to host families for international calling. Those that choose Cultural Care’s Overseas Connection Services can be assured of assistance from our qualified staff, a high quality connection and peace of mind in calling throughout the matching cycle. If you have any questions about our Overseas Connection Packages, please speak with your Program Director or Placement Manager or email services@culturalcare.com. with regards Michaela FitzgeraldLocal Childcare CoordinatorDenver, ColoradoT: 303 717 7502 michaelaflcc@hotmail.com http://www.culturalcare.com http://M-Fitzgerald.local.culturalcare.com/default.asp flexible,affordable childcare with an international flair