We were incredibly disappointed to hear the story of the nanny in Georgia that is alleged to have committed identity theft. It was no surprise to find out that the family in this case did not use an agency approved by the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies.  No matter how you do it, hiring a nanny can be tricky and often very complicated. But hiring on your own (without an agency that can provide deep industry knowledge) dramatically increases the odds of a negative outcome.  It’s like going to Las Vegas and playing the roulette wheel: it is 100% predictable that the outcome is unpredictable.

We all know that life is fraught with risk.  There is always a degree of risk in any hiring effort.  But, the vast majority of nanny candidates are safe and honest.  And, finding a great nanny for your children is like winning the lottery.  Everybody wins if we do this right.  The key questions here are twofold.  One, how much risk tolerance should I have in hiring a nanny?  Second, how best to minimize and manage the risk?

The answer to the first question is obvious to most.  You should have less tolerance for risk when it comes to your children’s welfare.  So, how do you minimize/manage the risk in the hiring process?  There are many fantastic Agencies out there that specialize in this very thing.

The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies advocates working with a professional agency that carries the APNA stamp of approval.  These agencies specialize in reading between the lines and expertly identifying those caregivers who are safe and those who are not. The most secure route is to let the Agency direct your hiring process from top to bottom and facilitate the most intense series of background checks available. One critical factor that sets agencies apart from online listing sites is that APNA agencies meet their candidates in person.  Placement fees for this type of service are not small.  But try to make it happen, understanding that you are investing in a fantastic caregiver for the most important people in your life.  The dividends will be huge.  To lead the life you want, can you afford not to do it this way?  But if you can’t do this, you can usually still work with your Agency of choice to vet a caregiver after you have done a search on your own.  Bottom line:  Have an APNA approved agency involved in this process.  You won’t regret it.