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 for many years, 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 3,400 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 often 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