Lawmakers say pediatric interim care center funding ceased; council requests further technical briefing

State legislators told the Federal Way City Council on July 15 that funding for a local pediatric interim care center program was discontinued in the 2025 budget and that the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and governor agreed with the funding decision. A council member who said she had professional experience with newborn care asked lawmakers why state funding ceased and whether program methods were still appropriate for drug-exposed infants. Representative Taylor replied that both DCYF and the governor agreed to cease funding and that the administration had concerns that program methods were not reimbursable by Medicaid and did not reflect current best practices for drug-impacted newborn care. Why it matters: Council members raised concerns about care for infants affected by parental substance use and asked for a more detailed technical discussion to understand alternatives and how state dollars will be redirected to other services. Lawmakers’ response and offer: Representative Taylor said the funding was reallocated to other facilities and treatment resources that the delegation judged to be better aligned with Medicaid reimbursement and current clinical practice. She invited councilmembers to meet with her and with DCYF staff for a fuller technical briefing and said she would help arrange those conversations. Next steps: City council members asked for a meeting with the delegation and DCYF to review clinical practices, the rationale for the funding shift and possible alternative supports for affected infants and families. The delegation agreed to facilitate follow-up meetings and provide contacts at DCYF for technical questions.