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USIA SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED AU PAIR REGULATIONS
The United States Information Agency (USIA) has released proposed regulations for the au pair program, and will be accepting written comments on the rule until May 13, 1999. The new regulations aim to increase oversight and accountability of participants in the au pair program and to reduce risk of injury to all participants, both the au pair and the host family.
The USIA feels that program sponsors tend to stress the child care aspects of the program to U.S. host families, and the opportunity to experience American life to the foreign national, leaving both parties with unrealistic expectations. To remedy this situation, the proposed rule would require program sponsors to provide a brochure written by the USIA describing the program to all participants. The regulations would also require the U.S. host family to speak with the au pair by telephone before placement to ensure adequate English language skills. 
The propose regulation would also require special screening of au pairs who will be placed with families with special needs children. Au pairs are not nurses, and cannot provide services that are performed by trained specialists. However, the au pair program should be available to families with special needs children. Therefore, the regulations propose that au pairs identify themselves as willing to attend such a child, and would require prior experience and training in the care of special needs children. The host family would be required to review and acknowledge the au pairs experience and training.