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An Elgin father and Army veteran is urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to eliminate what he calls a critical gap in its health care—affordable, convenient child care.
Sean Martin, 30, recently launched a petition calling for no-cost, short-term child care options at VA medical centers, saying such a move would help veteran parents avoid the difficult choice between tending to children or receiving appropriate medical attention.
“As a veteran myself and a local Elgin resident, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges veterans face when they need to attend medical appointments but have no child care options,” Martin told the Courier. “This issue impacts not only the veterans who are affected, but it also contributes to wasted resources and inefficiency in the healthcare system.”
Martin moved to Elgin in 2022 with his wife and fellow veteran, Amberlee, 31, who was born in the area. Amberlee’s own health struggles highlighted the family’s lack of support when scheduling appointments for her care, becoming a catalyst for the petition, he added.
During a crucial specialist visit, she brought their youngest children—ages 2 and 4—to the exam room because Martin’s work schedule could not accommodate time off.
“Details get overlooked when you’re trying to wrangle kids in an appointment,” Martin said. “She kind of got brushed off and sent out of that appointment with no answers. That was the last straw for me.”
He began drafting the petition that night, arguing that many veterans, especially young families, single parents and those with disabilities, are forced to skip or delay medical care without reliable options for their children.
The petition outlines how missed or canceled appointments can lead to poorer health outcomes and higher costs for the VA.
“The issue, as I see it, is that veterans have all these great benefits, but they’re no good to anybody if we can’t access them,” Martin said. “So, it’s really imperative that when you get those phone calls, you can accept the appointment. Being able to organize child care on short notice isn’t always feasible.”
His proposal calls for a drop-in child care program at VA medical centers across the country, funded through existing budgets and bolstered by volunteer help.
Martin cited a now-expired pilot program that once provided on-site child care at select VA facilities from 2010 to 2022, although it was never fully implemented nationwide or available to all veterans.
Discussions surrounding a comparable program have recently been raised, according to Martin, but similarly do not consider all veterans or areas in need.
“We are at a drop in the bucket,” Martin said of the 150 verified signatures his petition has gathered so far. “I’m extremely excited about our progress and the support we’ve gotten, but to get where we want to go, we have a lot of ground to cover.”
Martin hopes to see Texas lawmakers and VA Secretary Douglas Collins champion the plan, he said.
“Texas is also a state that’s prided itself on support of their veterans,” Martin said. “My goal is so much bigger than just our local area—I want this available to all veterans nationwide.”
Martin’s petition can be signed online at change. org/VeteranCareAccessibility, and he continues sending letters, networking with veteran advocacy organizations and encouraging others to spread the word.
“Even the best care in the world isn’t going to benefit a veteran parent if they can’t access it,” he said. “We want this barrier removed so that our community can really receive the care it has earned.”
