PICC Nursery Closure Sparks Outcry as Washington State Child Fatalities Linked to Fentanyl Rise

Kent, Washington – The Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC), a Kent-based nursery specializing in the care of drug-exposed newborns for 35 years, has ceased accepting new intakes following the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) canceling its contract and Governor Bob Ferguson's veto of state funding. This closure comes amidst a contentious debate over child welfare policies and a reported increase in child fatalities and near-fatalities linked to fentanyl exposure in Washington State.

PICC, founded in 1990, has provided 24-hour medical monitoring and nursing care to over 3,500 infants withdrawing from prenatal drug exposure, serving as a transitional bridge between hospital and home. The center's founder, Barbara Drennen, expressed dismay at the decision, stating that PICC was "blindsided" by the state's move and questioning who would now protect these vulnerable babies. PICC proponents argue it offers a cost-effective alternative to extended hospital stays for these fragile infants.

DCYF, however, asserts that PICC's "service model developed in the 1990s" is outdated. The agency stated that "new evidence-based models demonstrate better outcomes for babies when they 'room in' in hospitals under the care of a physician or are in transitional care homes that allow the mother and baby to stay together," citing "Eat, Sleep, and Console" as a best practice. DCYF also claimed the funding for PICC was "not cost-effective" given the low number of babies referred.

The controversy is deeply intertwined with Washington's "Keeping Families Together Act" (HB 1227), enacted in July 2023, which raised the legal standard for child removal to "imminent physical harm." Critics, including State Representative Travis Couture (R-Allyn), contend this law has inadvertently led to a surge in child deaths and near-fatalities, particularly among infants exposed to fentanyl. DCYF maintains that the increase in fatalities is primarily driven by the fentanyl epidemic itself, not the law.

Representative Couture, a vocal opponent of the current policy, highlighted the stark contrast in outcomes. In a recent tweet, he stated, > "At PICC, drug addicted infants come in bad shape and leave healthy. At DCYF, they stick those babies with fentanyl smoking parents and the infants overdose or die in squalor flop houses. You tell me, common sense folks, which one is evidence based?" His remarks underscore the growing concern among some lawmakers and child advocates regarding the safety of children in homes with active drug use.

While DCYF has introduced "Harm Reduction Kits" and supported Senate Bill 6109 to give "great weight" to fentanyl presence in child removal decisions, the debate continues over whether current policies adequately protect children from the escalating dangers of drug exposure. The closure of PICC leaves a significant gap in specialized care for these infants, raising questions about the future of child welfare in Washington State amid the ongoing fentanyl crisis.