KENT, Wash. — A world-renowned nursery that has cared for babies born withdrawing from drugs like opioids discharged its last patient Monday.
This comes after the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) terminated its contract with the facility, marking the end of a three-decade mission to help the state's most vulnerable infants.
The Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in Kent, which has treated more than 3,500 babies born with drug dependencies since its founding, closed its nursery to new admissions after DCYF canceled its contract and Gov. Bob Ferguson eliminated state funding.
The closure comes as new data shows child fatalities and near-fatalities in Washington have tripled in the first quarter of 2025, compared to that same time period in 2024. Nearly all cases involving children three and younger were linked to fentanyl exposure.
"This is a terrible day, this is a horrible day for us, a very sad day," said PICC’s Development Director Elaine Purchase.
The timing of the closure has drawn sharp criticism from Republican legislators and child welfare advocates, who argue the state is abandoning a critical resource at the moment it's needed most. Washington has nearly double the national average of babies born withdrawing from drugs, according to a March KING 5 investigation.
Financial Pressures Drive Decision
The Department of Children, Youth and Families cited the state's $16 billion budget shortfall as one reasons for slashing the $100,000 allocated in the state budget, calling the funding "not cost effective." The department sent a letter to PICC in early June mandating the center "stop all work" under their contract and "terminate all subcontracts."
"Without having the babies placed here we have no legal structure to have them here or to care for them," Purchase said. "I don't know how else they could shut us down if they take away the babies."
The closure has forced the layoff of longtime staff members, including caregivers who have dedicated decades to working with drug-dependent infants. One caretaker being laid off had worked at the facility for 24 years.
Last-Minute Political Intervention
Republican legislators made a final attempt to save the facility on Friday, sending a letter to DCYF and Gov. Ferguson urging the renewal of PICC's contract. In the letter, they wrote: "If PICC closes on Monday, it will not be for lack of performance, need or public support. It will be because a budget line was vetoed, a contract was cut and no one in power cared enough about newborn babies to say, 'This matters enough to fix.'"
"We're just throwing that legacy away and then harming children at the same time, who we could be helping," said Rep. Couture in a Friday interview.
DCYF maintains that it is ‘not shutting down PICC,’ stating that the center can still accept referrals directly from hospitals. However, PICC officials say they lack the legal authority to operate without state oversight and funding.
In a statement, the agency said it typically receives state funding for 13 beds, and only serves one to three babies per month.
"New evidence-based models demonstrate better outcomes for babies when they “room in” at hospitals under the care of a physician or are in transitional care homes that allow the mother and baby to stay together," DCYF said in a statement. "Today, more babies benefit from family-centered models such as Eat, Sleep, and Console, which is a best practice for substance-affected newborns. This is better for the baby and the family."
"With the elimination of funding and the end of the contract, DCYF will no longer refer newborns to the Kent PICC for placement, and we will place these children in other settings that can safely and appropriately meet their needs," according to DCYF.
Growing Crisis
The closure occurs against a backdrop of escalating child welfare crises in Washington state. Recent data from DCYF shows that child fatalities and near-fatalities have surged dramatically, with fentanyl playing a role in nearly all cases involving babies and toddlers.
"The real issue is we have state policies that are leaving these little ones in unsafe situations where they aren't getting the care that they need," said Purchase.
The Pediatric Interim Care Center had built an international reputation for its specialized care of infants experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome — the withdrawal symptoms babies experience when born dependent on opioids or other substances their mothers used during pregnancy.
Uncertain Future
DCYF will officially stop referring babies to PICC on July 1. Center officials are now trying to determine if and how they might continue serving this vulnerable population without state support.
"Throwing away the facility that the community built? It's a wonderful resource and they shouldn't throw it away," said Purchase.