I am very grateful for the assistance that the Virginia DSS provides for my family in assisting with childcare fees. However, their policy limiting the number of absences they will pay for is concerning. If my child is absent it is because they have become sick due to being exposed to various germs they have encountered at the daycare facility.  The daycares policy about sickness and illness usually prohibit children from attending at least one day if not more or until cleared by a doctor which means either way my child will be absent from daycare and I will be absent from work where I make money to provide for my family. Being absent from work and missing out on money that I use to pay bills is one thing but to have an additional cost such as paying for childcare that my child was absent for is frustrating. If an absence was for something other than illness I can understand that. However, as a parent of a small child that attends daycare and has had to miss work to stay with the child mulitple times every month is again frustrating.