Our History

In 1968, following their conviction that living and working abroad must be a part of everyone’s personal education, Uta and Paul Christianson began International Student Visitor Services, the organization that would become InterExchange. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2018.

When the U.S. Department of State created the Au Pair exchange program in 1989, Uta and Paul recognized the program as a perfect fit for InterExchange and its nonprofit mission, and Au Pair USA was born.

As a native of Germany, Uta believed that the European tradition of families hosting au pairs provides one of the most rewarding ways for young people to travel, experience a new culture and enhance language skills. She also knew that when young children are exposed to new cultures and learn new languages, it can have a transformative effect on their futures. Quality childcare has long been expensive and difficult to obtain in the U.S., and Uta believed that Au Pair USA would be a program with incredible mutual benefit for au pairs and host families alike.

Thirty years later, her vision has proved true. At Au Pair USA, we’re motivated every day to help simplify the world of live-in childcare for thousands of American families, while creating friendships between au pairs and their host kids and parents that last a lifetime.