Final answer:
Nannies and au pairs are known as in-home care providers and are part of essential alternative family structures when children cannot live with biological or adoptive parents. They are included in the 25 percent of children living with nonrelatives and provide a vital service in a society where childcare needs are evolving due to economic and social changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nannies and au pairs are responsible for one or several children, in the child's home or in their own home, and are known as in-home care providers.
The concept of in-home care is significant in the context of child welfare and family structures. For instance, it's noted that 25 percent of children who do not live with an adoptive or biological parent live with nonrelatives. These non-relatives can include nannies, au pairs, foster parents, temporary guardians, or other types of caregivers. Foster parents, who account for about a quarter of nonrelatives, are state-certified and provide care under agency guidelines, often receiving financial support for the children in their care. This arrangement is seen as an alternative family structure necessary due to various reasons, such as parental mental health issues, drug use, or incarceration.
The extent of in-home care requirements stems from various societal changes such as the shift from traditional extended family structures, where relatives like grandparents or aunts and uncles would take on the caregiving role, to situations where professional caregivers are hired. This shift reflects social disruptions, economic changes, and the transformation in the perception of elder care, which drives the need for alternative care arrangements. In the contemporary United States, childcare expenses and the flexibility required by a fast-paced, capitalist economy further affect family structures and care decisions, contributing to the engagement of in-home care providers.