R.P.
You could try the web site Sittercity.com. You post your request (sitter, nanny, etc) and people reply. You can look through all of the replies, check references, etc. The site even has an easy way to do a background check. There is a fee to sign up with Sittercity, but you can choose what you need (one month vs. one year, etc.). I've used the site several times in the past to find sitters and it's worked great. I usually get like 30 applicants and many of them are also looking for nanny work.