Drug-exposed newborns face imminent closure of critical care center amid funding veto; House Republican leadership appeals to Gov. Ferguson, Secretary Senn in letter
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Drug-exposed newborns face imminent closure of critical care center amid funding veto; House Republican leadership appeals to Gov. Ferguson, Secretary Senn in letter
Today, members of House Republican leadership sent the following letter to Gov. Bob Ferguson and Department of Children, Youth, and Families Secretary Tana Senn, urging immediate action to prevent the loss of the Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in Kent. Citing the governor’s veto of $100,000 in bipartisan funding and DCYF’s termination of PICC’s referral contract, the lawmakers question why the administration is moving to close the only facility in western Washington dedicated exclusively to caring for drug-exposed newborns. The letter calls on the administration to reverse course, reinstate referrals, and restore essential funding before the state loses a proven, lifesaving resource.
Related:
State budget cuts force closure of Kent nursery caring for drug-exposed newborns — June 17, 2025 (KOMO News)
Editorial: Governor’s cut to funding for drug-exposed newborns a shame — June 24, 2025 (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
