Navigating Sick Days: Know Your Childcare Options

While finding the right childcare for your family can be challenging, there are positive solutions available—even when your child is under the weather.

Here are some available childcare options that may help you now and in the future. 

HoneyTree Early Learning Center Roanoke—Sick Care Room  

As a Carilion employee, you have access to the Sick Care Room (staffed by an LPN) at the Riverwalk HoneyTree in Roanoke to help you care for your mildly ill child when you need to work. Carilion subsidizes 100% of the cost, and this benefit is available even if your child is not enrolled at HoneyTree for regular care.  

What to Know

• Hours: The Sick Care Room is open 6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. If you are scheduled to work later than 5:30 p.m., the Sick Care Room may remain open until 7 p.m., if prior arrangements have been made with the nurse on duty. 
• Reservations:  After 6:30 a.m., call Carilion Sick Child Care at 540-519-8946. If reservations are made after 5:30 p.m. or before 6:30 a.m., call CRMH at 540-981-7000 and ask the operator to page the staffing office. 
• Medication: If your child needs medication (prescription or over the counter) in the Sick Care Room, you must submit a completed medication authorization form for the LPN to administer it.    
• Guidance:  To help ensure the sick childcare room is a safe and quiet place for your mildly ill child, we ask that you follow these guidelines when determining if sick childcare is appropriate. Please complete the registration form before using the Sick Care Room. 

Appropriate Illnesses for the Sick Care Room 

• Ear Infection
• Sinus Infection
• Tonsillitis
• Fever 100.4 degrees or below
• Minor non-contagious health problems
• Children with pinkeye and strep throat can use the Sick Care Room if they have been on medication or have been receiving treatment for at least 24 hours. 

HoneyTree Early Learning Center

Through our partnership with HoneyTree Early Learning Centers, we offer you access to quality and affordable childcare by paying 25% of the weekly cost of care at any HoneyTree location.

HoneyTree offers:

• 10 locations throughout the Roanoke Valley and Christiansburg
• Hours from 6:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Infant and toddler care
• Full- and half-day preschool programs
• Before- and after-school programs serving more than 50 area schools
• Summer camp

New River Valley—Radford Early Learning Center 

Childcare is available in the New River Valley through Radford Early Learning Center, where Carilion pays 25% of your weekly cost of tuition. 

Using Your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

If you enrolled or re-enrolled in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) during benefits open enrollment in the fall, be sure you're taking advantage of its benefits. These reminders can help:

• The Dependent Care FSA saves you money by allowing you to pay for eligible child or adult/elder care expenses with funds deducted from your paycheck before taxes are applied. Our FSA plan is administered by Optum Financial. 
• Your Dependent Care FSA can be used for a variety of IRS approved expenses, such as daycare, preschool, before-school and after-school care. 
• As an added benefit, Carilion contributes $10 per pay period, up to an annual maximum of $270, to your Dependent Care FSA when you participate and contribute at least $10 per pay period.
• The maximum contribution to the Dependent Care FSA in 2026 is $7,500 per household, including the Carilion contribution. The $7,500 per year maximum also includes the amount of any subsidy that Carilion pays on your behalf if you use HoneyTree Early Learning Centers.
• If you have a Dependent Care FSA balance from 2025, you can spend the dollars in your account on eligible dependent care expenses through March 15, 2026. Any dollars not spent by March 15 will be forfeited.
• All claims from 2025 must be filed by March 31, 2026. 

For more information, contact the HR Service Center through Employee Center or the Now mobile app.