SAVE THE DATE! PICC's Annual Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2024. click here for more information
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.
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
Barbara J. Drennen, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Peyton Gaunt, M.D., F.A.A.P., Medical Director:
Board of Directors