Sheri Watkins

EASTON TOWN CENTER - JUNE 22, 2008

Posted by: swatkins on June 25, 2008

Internet Safety

Posted by: swatkins on June 23, 2008

Internet Safety… Rules of the Web!!!

Internet Safety Rules

While the Internet offers amazing opportunities for entertainment, education, connectivity, and more, anyone who goes online should understand basic Online Safety. It is also important to remember that you are in a position of responsibility as a caregiver of children, therefore you have a responsibility to make sure that your actions online do not endanger your host family.

·    When asked by friends or strangers, online or offline, never share Account IDs and Passwords.  

·    Don’t reveal any personal identity information in your Screen Names, such as your birthday, hobbies, hometown or school.

·    In any information exchange, like e-mail, bulletin boards, chat, Facebook, Myspace, or Youtube, never give any personal information about yourself or someone else. Most importantly, do not put your host family at risk by sharing personal information like their address, phone number, names, or names of the children, or any other personal information.

•  
  • WARNING: IDENTITY THEFT - Any/All of the above information could be used by others to commit a crime called Identity theft. Criminals use personal information of others to create a false persona and open credit accounts and steal from bank accounts under this false identification. You do not want “bad guys” pretending to be you or your host family while committing crimes.  

·    Don’t share photos of yourself, your host family, or your host home with people you meet online.

·    Never open e-mails that come from unknown sources DELETE them.

·    If you receive mean or threatening comments online, don’t respond. Log off and report the activity to your LCC or host parents.

·    Nothing you write on the Web is completely private. Be careful what you write and to whom.

• WARNING: STRANGER DANGER- NEVER  make plans to meet an online “friend” in person.  This person could be telling you complete lies about who they are and why they want to meet you. They could in-fact be a criminal looking for victims. Do not become a VICTIM.
• Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone who says that “she” is a “19-year-old girl” or an “au pair” could really be an older man.
• Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.

·    WHEN IN DOUBT: Always ask your LCC or host parents for help. If you’re not sure, log off.

Au Pair Car Use

Posted by: swatkins on June 23, 2008

Car Use

A Privlege, Not a Right

Car Use

A PRIVLEGE, NOT A RIGHT

Your host family will likely expect you to drive and allow use of the care while on duty. You may also be privileged to use the car while off duty for personal use. In either case, please do not take advantage of the situation and make sure you clearly understand your host family’s rules and always follow those rules.

Some things to remember and ask about:

·         Keep a copy of important reminders and car use rules and expectations in the glove compartment, the visor, or visible on the dashboard.

·         NO cell phone use while driving!!!

·         Always wear your seatbelt and make sure passengers do also. It is a crime in the State of Ohio to drive or ride in a car without a seatbelt buckled.

·         Make sure that your host children are always restrained correctly in the car. Ask your host parents to show you the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seatbelts for their children. There are different rules based on the size and age of the child.

·         Always be aware of speed limit signs and drive at or below the speed limit. It is against Ohio law to drive over the set speed limit.

·         Ask your host parents about occupancy rules. How many passengers can you have in the car at one time?

·         Always follow your host family’s rules about limits to the driving distance and mileage you can use when you have use of the car.

·         Ask your host family if you are prohibited from driving in any particular locations.

·         Always abide by your host family’s curfew when using the car.

·         Discuss with your host family the expectations of on-duty vs. off-duty driving time and frequency of use.

·         Make sure you know what type and grade of gasoline to use in the car. It is courteous to re-fill the fuel tank at your expense after personal use of the car.

·         Ask your Host family what to do in an emergency such as an accident.

·         Keep local police phone numbers, state police phone numbers, and other emergency and road side assistance contact numbers in the vehicle at all times.

·         Get an Ohio license and ask your host family if you are included on the car insurance.

·         When in doubt, ask your host family!!!

Recommendations for a Smooth Start

Posted by: swatkins on June 23, 2008

Important Information for Au Pairs

Recommendations for a Smooth Start

Important Phone Numbers and Contact Information for Cultural Care Au Pair (CCAP)

Your LCC –      Sheri Watkins (614)204-5693

                        sheri.watkins@lcc.culturalcare.com

                        http://swatkins.aupairnews.com

The Boston Office can be reached by dialing the main CCAP number: 1-800-333-6056. Basic information can be obtained this way. Your Program Director is Robin Hannum. Dial the main number, press 1, and then dial her extension: 3580, followed by the # key.

By calling 1-800-448-5753, you can speak with someone at CCAP about flights, visas, deposits, phone cards, travel, and extension.

Basic Insurance Information

Many au pairs choose to go to an urgent care facility rather than a doctor’s office. Either is fine as long as they accept Aetna (most do). To find a doctor, follow these directions:

·         Go to www.aetna.com/docfind/custom/erika

·         Click on Enter Docfind

·         Click on I Accept

·         Click on Zip

·         Enter your Host Family Zip Code

·         Choose the distance you are willing to travel (like 5 miles)

·         Select a provider Category (usually medical provider)

·         Select a provider type (this means the type of doctor; primary physician, specialist, etc.)

·         Select a plan, choose Open Choice PPO

·         You can click on More Options to narrow your search or click on Start Search to view search results of doctors and medical providers in your area

If you have the basic insurance plan and see an Aetna doctor, you must pay $65 deductable/co-pay ($95 for non-Aetna providers). If you have the extended insurance plan, you will have to pay $35 deductable/co-pay when you see an Aetna doctor and $65 if you see a non-Aetna provider.

You can expect to have to pay for your prescriptions when you fill them. You can fill out a reimbursement form and the insurance company will pay you back. Ask the doctor if the medication is expensive before you leave the office. She/he may be able to prescribe one that is not as expensive!

Driver’s License/Social Security Card

Study the Ohio Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws. Go to www.bmv.ohio.gov/driver_license/mvdigest.htm for a downloadable version or obtain a copy at the following testing stations:

Customer Service Center East

1583 Alum Creek Drive

Columbus, OH 43209

(614) 995-5353

Open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 5:30 P.M.

Open Saturday from 8:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.

This location offers one-stop shopping services with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) driver license examination station, deputy registrar license agency, Clerk of Courts title office and Columbus regional driver license reinstatement service center.

NOTE: The driver license reinstatement service center is NOT open on Saturday.

Customer Service Center West

1970 West Broad Street

Columbus, OH 43223

(614) 995-5353

Open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 5:30 P.M.

Open Saturday from 8:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.

This location offers one-stop shopping services with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) driver license examination station, deputy registrar license agency and Clerk of Courts title office.

Hilliard Driver Examination Station

4738 Cemetery Road

Hilliard, OH 43026

(614) 921-8946

Open Tuesday through Friday 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M.

Open Saturday 8:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M.

Bioptics Testing By Appointment

This location offers one-stop shopping services with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) driver license examination station and deputy registrar license agency.

Springfield Driver Examination Station
1139 Bechtle Avenue, Park Shopping Center
Springfield, OH 45504
(937) 325-4554
Open Tuesday through Saturday (Call for hours of operation or to schedule a driving test)
This location offers one-stop shopping services with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) driver license examination station and deputy registrar license agency.

Get an Ohio Driver’s License. Written Tests can be taken in 16 different languages at any of the above Ohio BMV licensing offices/stations.

Learn what the family wants you to do if you have a car accident. If you plan to drive, do not leave the house without this information!

Social Security Card

Visit www.ssa.gov/online/forms.html to download and print forms. Go to the section “other forms” and scroll down to form SS-5.

**Au pairs should wait 10 days from the date they enter the United States before filing an application with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA cannot verify their status with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until at least 10 days after the date of entry**  

Take the following Au Pair documents to the SS office:

SOCIAL SECURITY
1051 WORTHINGTON WOODS
WORTHINGTON, OH 43085

Phone Numbers:

Or

SOCIAL SECURITY
2026 W MAIN STREET
SPRINGFIELD, OH 45504

Phone Numbers:

Documents you should take when applying for both a driver’s license and a social security card:

1.      Completed SS-5 form

2.      Passport

3.      I-94 (should be stapled inside VISA)

4.      DS-2019

5.      Social Security Letter (available on host family extranet)

6.      Letter of Good Standing (sent to host family prior to Au Pair’s arrival- and available from host family extranet)

7.      If passport is less than 1 year old, THEN… Picture ID with DOB… This ID MUST be more than 1 year old.

Bank Accounts

Open a bank/checking account. Shop around at different banks in search of those that offer free accounts.

Keep track of your spending and try to save up for any trips that you may want to take!

Phone Cards

Many long distance companies’ offer international calling, but they can be the most expensive option.

Alternatives:

EF Phone Card – Some of the Au Pairs buy theses at school in New York. They can be recharged using a major credit card. The rates are not the best though.

www.nobelcom.com

www.zaptel.com

www.phonecardsonsale.com – All of these offer online phone card purchase. Extremely reasonable rates. Always read the connection charge/expiration info. Some cards do expire within a certain time frame.

  Other Recommendations for a Smooth Start

      Communicate! Communicate! Communicate

      Review the Household Handbook. Review it again after you have been here for a month! You will do a better job if you remember what the family is expecting.

      Exercise and eat healthy food and be careful about eating too much fast food. Many Au Pairs gain weight, and you do not want to buy a new wardrobe. Nor do I want to hear you are on an unhealthy “diet” in pursuit of weight loss!

      Keep a journal to help with homesickness. It will also be a nice way to look back at your year. Set your mind on learning as much as you can about American Culture and spend time sharing yours. I have ideas to help if your homesickness becomes overwhelming!

      Use your daily communication log especially to track non-verbal children’s activities and daily happenings.

      Remember that the guidelines are important. Contact me if the family is working you more than 45 hours a week, 10 hours a day.

      Remember that you are part of their family and be sure to help as a family member would.

      Make a copy of your insurance card, passport, I-94, and DS2019. Just in case something gets lost. It will be easier to replace.

      If you plan to travel outside of the US, check to see what the visa requirements are and be sure to complete the travel checklist. This will include having your DS-2019 signed by Boston!

      Come to your monthly meetings without exception. Your ideas are always welcome! You can find the dates and times on the website: http:/s-watkins.local.culturalcare.com

Most importantly!

I am here to help your year run smoothly!!! Do not hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns, or small issues before they become big problems.

Office Hours: Call between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM unless extreme emergency. Email anytime!

Sheri Watkins

Cultural Care Au Pair

Local Childcare Coordinator

(614)204-5693

Sheri.watkins@lcc.culturalcare.com

http://swatkins.aupairnews.com