On Jan. 11, the Vermont Department for Children and Families presented its budget to the House Appropriations Committee. Its proposal would redirect $4.6 million that has been earmarked for “child development” to a fund that will be used to pay for building a temporary, architecturally secure structure to house adjudicated youth. This is in addition to the $5 million DCF has already socked away to build a six-bed secure detention facility in Newbury — forcing a noncompliant land use in a conservation district, despite the lack of services and infrastructure. Given the significant need for programs to support Vermont’s children