No federal funding for Woodside; state to propose new facility

There's no federal funding for the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Colchester.

Two years ago, the state lost federal funding for the 30-bed facility for 10- to 18-year-olds. Ever since, officials have tried to get that $2.6 million back.

The state learned last month that's not going to happen. Vermont Human Services Secretary Al Gobeille says the state can't meet federal standards necessary to receive Medicaid funding. He also thinks the age of the facility was a big factor in the decision.

"Woodside was a juvenile correctional facility. We were trying to make it into a juvenile treatment facility and getting the federal government to agree that you've met that standard is where this friction comes from. So, we're basically saying we don't think with the current facility and current programming we're gonna be able to win that case with the federal government," Gobeille said.

He says the Scott administration will propose a new facility in January.