SAVE THE DATE! PICC's Annual Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2024.  click here for more information 

Caring for the Smallest Victims of Drug Abuse

 

Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) is the nation's first interim care nursery for drug-exposed and medically fragile newborns.
Founded in 1990, PICC's model program has given thousands of infants a safe and healthy start in life.

PICC, located in Kent, Washington -  20 miles south of Seattle  -   provides 24-hour medical monitoring and nursing care to fill the gap between hospital and home for infants recovering from prenatal drug exposures or other medical difficulties. PICC's pioneering program also facilitates visitation for families, provides caregiver training, follows babies after they leave and offers a range of community outreach and education services.  As our community confronts a crisis of addiction to opiods and other drugs, PICC is the only center providing transitional care for prenatally exposed infants throughout Washington State.

In the 1980s, America was in the throes of a cocaine epidemic. Its tiniest victims, often premature and medically fragile newborns, flooded neonatal intensive care units and overwhelmed a foster care system ill-prepared to deal with such fragile infants.During this time, Barbara Drennen specialized in the care of premature newborns in her home in Kent, Washington. As increasing numbers of cocaine-exposed infants were placed with her, she developed therapeutic techniques to safeguard drug-affected infants through the difficult period of withdrawal. Hospitals began asking Drennen to design a center formalizing the kind of care she was providing in her home. In response, with the help of a friend, they created an interim care program to fill the gap between hospital and home to protect these fragile neonates. Thus was born the Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in Kent. PICC (pronounced “pick”) was the first, and is still the only stand-alone newborn nursery specializing in bringing drug-affected infants through withdrawal. Barbara Drennen continues to lead PICC as Executive Director. Over the years, she has managed the care of more than 3,100 drug-affected newborns through their difficult first weeks. She has trained thousands of caregivers, medical professionals, and others in the recognition and medical management of drug-affected infants. She consults with others hoping to start similar centers across the country and around the world and is a leading voice in the fight to protect the littlest victims of drugs.

The Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) provides immediate, short-term medical care between hospital and home for medically fragile infants suffering from prenatal drug exposure at a savings to the taxpayers of Washington State. PICC also provides educational and support services to the community in the recognition and management of substance abused infants.



Mission Objectives

    Provide care by a qualified nursing staff under the direction of pediatric medical directors.
    Offer a format of withdrawal that combines high quality medical management with therapeutic handling in a homelike atmosphere.
    Train and support families in the care of infants to help ensure long-term success.
    Coordinate with the health community and government agencies in evaluating the incidence, treatment, and long-term follow-up of high risk infants.
    Use private donations, grants and volunteers to offer our state and local communities a low-cost alternative to traditional hospital care.
    Maintain an awareness program to inform the community about the dangers of drug abuse during pregnancy and the implications of caring for medically fragile infants.
    Be a strong advocate for the children

Values



Professional •Respectful •Non-judgmental •Confidential •Nurturing •Diverse



Barbara Drennen
Barbara J. Drennen, Co-Founder and Executive Director

Barbara came to this mission in the late 1980s as a provider of in-home care for medically fragile infants in the state foster care system. She heads the nation’s only newborn nursery dedicated to specialized 24-hour care of the littlest victims of drug abuse. Her honors include the national Jefferson Award for Public Service.


Dr. Gaunt
Peyton Gaunt, M.D., F.A.A.P., Medical Director:

Chief Medical Officer; Pediatrician on call and makes rounds.
Dr. Gaunt is Board Certified in Pediatrics and began private practice in 1977. He served for three years as Chief of Pediatrics at Valley Medical Center and received the Distinguished Service Award by the Washington Chapter of Pediatrics.
Elaine Purchase, Development Director:

Grant Writer, Special events coordinator, fundraiser.
A Peabody Award-winning television producer (KOMO and KCTS TV) Elaine became PICC's grant writer in 2003 and full time Development Director with the launching of the Capital Campaign for PICC's new bulding in 2004.


Board of Directors

Monica Ochs. Vice President
Registered Nurse
Joined Board 2015. Residence: Anacortes
Affiliations: Vice President, Friends of the Forest Board

Lynn (Marjorie L.) Norman, Secretary
Retired Administrative Director Leadership Institute of South Puget Sound,
Retired Auburn City Councilmember,
retired small business owner
Joined Board 2009 Residence: Auburn
Affiliations: Green River College Board, Trillium Board, Auburn Youth Resources Board


Kenneth G. Bussey, Treasurer
CPA, Rhodes & Associates, Federal Way
Joined Board 2005
Residence: Black Diamond
Affiliations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants,
Associated General Contractors of Washington, Federal Way Chamber of Commerce.

John C. Hall, Past President
Director of Sales, Western U.S. & Canada, Esterline Engineered Materials
Retired Navy Commander with 40 years’ experience in aerospace industry;
Board Member and former Chairman, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance
Joined Board 2006 Residence: Newcastle

Ruby Hill
Boeing Co., Retired
Joined Board 2017.
Residence, Kent
Affiliations: Kent First Baptist Church Executive Board and Women’s Ministry Team

Elizabeth Halberg
Office Manager, Optimal Dental
Joined Board 2018. Residence, Seattle
Affiliations: Past PTA President and Legislative Representative, Issaquah School District

John Thompson
Patrol Commander, Kent Police Department
Joined Board 2018, Residence, Puyallup
Affiliations: Lifetime member, California Narcotics Officers Assn: current member,
Washington State Tactical Officer Association; volunteer, Berean Baptist Church,
Puyallup Community Baptist Church, Behind The Badge Foundation


Emeritus Logo
Harry H. Hansen
Dr. Wilma Hepker
Kenneth Kilbreath
Thomas Leonard
Dr. Cathy Jo Linn
Dennis O’Block
Hal R. Russell
Nancy Tyrie
Jane Rhodes