The state's budget cuts are being felt close to home. The state has plans to close the Commonwealth's Center for Children and Adolescents, which is a psychiatric home for children, in Staunton.

Nearly 200 nurses, social workers and other staff will be laid off and the patients will be transferred to other facilities.

Along with the 180 people being laid off from the center, 20 teachers who also work at the center will no longer have jobs. The teachers would come in to help the children at the center keep up with educational standards.

Wayne Rankin, a registered nurse at the center who has worked there for 33 years, says this news is not something he's taking lightly.

He says, "There is a lot of mixed emotions going on right now. First it's the disbelief and then the other one is, 'Oh my gosh, what are we going to do now with the economic standings are?'"

With close to 200 people losing their jobs at the facility, Rankin says he's worried about all his coworkers.

He adds, "We're in the Shenandoah Valley. We are a small community, so this is a hardship for many people. Here it is Christmas."

Melissa Gee, a social worker at the center, says her job isn't her only concern at this point.

Gee says, "I'm worried about my job but I am a social worker and my priority is the children."

She says the center has been a last resort for many children.

"We're basically the last place and a lot of places won't take these kids," adds Gee. "So we take them and a lot of times they do very well at this facility."

Facility Director Joe Tuell says the layoffs are a big hit to the area, but he says their main priority is the patients.

Tuell says, "My concern is that we are going into this very difficult time, is that we are eliminating a public safety net for children."

City officials discussed the closing at a press conference Wednesday. They plan to work with the Virginia Employment Commission and possibly the Department of Social Services to help people laid off.