The Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in Kent, Washington, the only specialized medical facility in western Washington caring for drug-exposed babies, ceased accepting new patients on Monday June 30, 2025, after having its budget cut by the state and their services rendered inoperable by the state's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) ending their contract with PICC.
Typically, PICC receives $700,000 annually in state funding, which is just under half of PICC’s total budget. Governor Bob Ferguson (D-WA), through a partial budget veto, eliminated this funding entirely even after lawmakers had managed to secure a reduced allocation of $100,000 for the next two years.
The cut in funding aligns with the state’s shifting priorities under the Keeping Families Together Act, which aims to reduce the number of children entering foster care by raising the legal standard for removing children from their families.
Critics contend that the Act merely prioritizes family preservation over child safety, citing a reported increase in child deaths, many from drug exposure.
Adding to the challenge, DCYF terminated its contract with PICC, thus ceasing to send infants suffering from prenatal drug exposures or other medical difficulties to the facility as of July 1, 2025, effectively halting PICC’s ability to serve children.
The staff at PICC were ready to work with the reduced funding and to even dip into reserves for the upcoming years with the hope that a compensating legislature would arrive.
With reduced funding and visibility PICC now faces the risk of closure after 35 years of providing care to babies exposed to drugs. Still, the center intends to remain open as long as possible, PICC Development Director Elaine Purchase told The Center Square on Monday:
“We're working on it and trying to see if there are ways that we can work with DCYF and receive babies even without a contract and without money – maybe we do it for free.”
The funding cut to PICC has not only dismayed its staff, but has also outraged Republicans in the state legislature, including Washington House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary. Joined by a half-dozen colleagues, Stokebary wrote a letter to Governor Ferguson urging him to reconsider his legislative decision:
“Governor Ferguson, throughout your first legislative session as governor, you said that you just wanted to do things that are ‘common sense.’ What is more common sense than using the power you hold to save the lives of innocent newborn babies?
“There is still time to act. Let this be that moment. Let it be said of this administration that when the stakes were clearest, leaders chose to stand up, step in and do the right thing.
“On behalf of the most vulnerable Washingtonians — newborns born into addiction, trembling through withdrawal in their first hours of life — we ask you to recognize the cost of inaction and take immediate steps to safeguard these fragile lives.”
Governor Ferguson has not commented on either the letter or PICC.