Staunton’s Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents survived during final General Assembly budget deliberations Saturday.

STAUNTON — Supporters lined up Tuesday to air their concerns about the effects of a planned closing of Staunton’s Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents at the first advisory committee meeting on the transition.

Mental-health facilities for children on state budget chopping block

Del. Chris Saxman said Thursday he will introduce a budget amendment that will allow Staunton’s Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents to remain open.

Between the late 1700s and the 1970s, Virginia had a practice of institutionalizing handicapped populations that were inadequately served in Virginia localities. The commonwealth was an early state providing services for the mentally ill.