Location for new youth detention center in Newbury Town approved despite pushback

A former bed and breakfast was approved as the site for a new youth detention center in Newbury Town, Vermont.

A former bed and breakfast in Vermont is set to become the site of a new youth detention center in Newbury Town for minors within the criminal justice system.

This development marks the first youth treatment facility in the state since 2020, when the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center closed. Despite opposition from nearby neighbors and the Newbury Town Development Board, the Vermont Supreme Court approved the location in December.

Aryka Radke, deputy commissioner of the Department for Children and Families (DCF), emphasized the crucial role this facility would play in the state. The designed program proposes to be a midterm solution, providing treatment for up to four months or longer to address the specific needs of youth in crisis situations.

Radke explained that, when referring to it as a system of care, it comprises various layers. The children may undergo different stages and possess different types of needs, and the aim is to address them based on their current situation.

The redevelopment of the site is yet to commence, and DCF is still determining the exact use of the property. Radke mentioned ongoing initiatives and the need to proceed despite delays related to the shelter’s opening and pending litigation.

The Vermont Permanency Initiative, a nonprofit organization, owns the property. Despite concerns from Newbury residents and the town’s development review board, Radke assured that the organization is making efforts to engage with the community and address their concerns. Anticipated high-grade security measures at the facility lead some to draw comparisons, viewing it more as a prison than a group home. Local residents also express concerns about the impact on the town’s character.

Radke highlighted the benefits of having such a facility within the community, emphasizing proximity to families and essential services for Vermont youth. Radke also emphasized that these are familiar children in communities that everyone values and cares about.

Currently, the Vermont Department for Children and Families does not have a specific timeline for when the new youth detention center in Newbury Town will be operational. However, Radke mentioned plans to establish a temporary crisis stabilization facility in Middlesex during the interim period.

Source: https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/dept-for-children-and-families-prepares-to-build-new-youth-detention-center/

Photo by Afta Putta Gunawan: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-group-of-people-standing-on-grass-field-1250346/