I actually selected my agency by interviewing the local lcc's / counselors that were in my area.  I met with four, from 4 agencies, and picked based on my feedback.  I interviewed them, asked about their communication style, what kind of communication they had with host families, and what the agency would have them do in situations (mediation, transition, alcohol abuse, pregnancy)... I also asked to speak with a local family using them, and could ask pretty pointed questions about service, etc.  I found that many coordinators have their own rules they follow, and don't really comply with the rules of the program. 

While I love my LCC and have had great luck, I have friends with the same agency who don't have as good of luck.  I really do think your success with an agency (or lack of success) starts at this local level.  If my LCC changes, I very well may decide to switch agencies... But take the time to interview, and if the agency doesn't want you to interview like that (when I did this 3 years ago, I spoke with one who didn't want me to interview their coordinator) -  I would run from that agency as quickly as possible.  Same goes for another friend who was with a different agency.  They didn't have anyone in her area, so she was told to just "get a friend to be your LCC" and the service she had (understandably) was terrible....

Good luck finding your great coordinator/LCC - when you do, you will have a great experience with your agency (no matter who they are...)

Hi there Janice765,

This is an interesting topic that you raise.  Hiring practices for counselors/LCCs are not particularly standardized and remain quite variable across the different agencies.  When you look at the requirements for a counselor by the Dept. of State, regarding "required" background and training, the Dept. focuses more on what the responsibilities counselors must carry out once they are hired, but pretty much leave the hiring requirements to the individual agencies.  This lends to the variability across agencies that host parents find so problematic.

For example, a counselor is not required to have a college degree.  If they do have a college education, it does not have to be in the social sciences (for example, a psychology or social work background would significantly improve mediation and communication skills for both au pairs and host parents).  There is no requirement for years of "experience" in this field since this position is so unique that most if not all prospective counselors have had no prior experience in the au pair industry.  Training is done by a senior counselor and this training is also variable (i.e., requires no set training rules and regulations). 

It is also difficult to find "qualified" (what ever that may mean) people to hire - the job itself is defined as a "consultant" position. This means the counselors are not considered "employees" of the agency - they do not get pensions plans or health benefits, etc., and the pay is often low.  There is no extra compensation for 'middle of the night' emergencies, etc.  If counselors have to take an au pair into their home and house them for days or weeks, they often get little or no monetary compensation for the meals they must provide, etc.  Most agencies will pay $10 - $15 a day, and we all know that this amount will not cover food, telephone and misc. costs that arise when housing an au pair. 

If the agency allows troubled au pairs into the program, the counselor must deal with this on her own and housing these au pairs occur frequently.  Then, the counselor can and often do experience "burn out" -  no one wants au pairs living in their home for extended periods of time - it is disruptive and stressful not only for the counselor, but for her entire family. 

Therefore, most agencies have significant turnover rates with their counselors.  The majority of counselors today are young mothers, often with their own au pairs in the home, trying to juggle a large cluster of families and au pairs, their young children and their own au pairs.  When the agencies first started (in the 80's) most counselors that were hired consisted of older women whose children had already left the "nest" and these older, middle-aged moms, who had no or little college experience or training in mediation or counseling, actually worked out fairly well.  The au pairs became a subsitute for the empty nest and these women thrived in their roles of "au pair moms."  However, that breed is slowly dying out and being replaced by the younger counselor who often has other part-time or full-time work and this conflict, along with individual family pressures and needs, create a situation where both au pairs and host parents get less time and service from their local counselors. 

A host parent really doesn't know what kind of counselor will be assigned to their "territory."  You do not have a choice in your counselor - it is who ever covers your part of town.  You will not know what the education and training consists of; you will not know how successful the counselor has been over the period she has held her position and most agencies will not give you a list of parents in the area for you to call (for personal references to check the counselor or the agency itself).

So, what can a host parent do? 

The best rule for choosing a great counselor is to choose a great agency!  

If the agency is reliable, with good, sound screening of au pairs and host families, who are rated highly in terms of customer service, reasonable program fees and innovative programs, you can be assured that your counselor has what it takes to service you and your au pair.  It is not 100% guarenteed - no agency can deliver that, but choosing the "cream" of the crop of agencies remains the most reliable method of receiving the best counselor. 

Hope this post is helpful to you and our readers!

Best,

Edina