HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2002-4717, by Representatives Upthegrove, Schual‑Berke, Dickerson, Simpson and Kagi

     WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize and honor the contributions of individuals and organizations that reflect standards of excellence that enhance the well-being and quality of life of the citizens of the state of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, Barbara Drennen and Barbara Richards, who were both longtime foster parents, were asked to develop a program for Washington state's most vulnerable infants, and in doing so acted to open the Pediatric Interim Care Center in the city of Kent, Washington, on October 1, 1990; and

     WHEREAS, The Pediatric Interim Care Center is the only clinic of its kind in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, The Pediatric Interim Care Center provides outstanding care for over one hundred twenty drug-affected babies in Washington state each year; and

     WHEREAS, The Pediatric Interim Care Center has improved and enriched the lives of countless people in Washington state; and

     WHEREAS, The Pediatric Interim Care Center served one hundred thirty-six infants in 2001, and has served one thousand two hundred ten infants in its ten years of operation; and

     WHEREAS, The Pediatric Interim Care Center saved the taxpayers of the state of Washington over three million five hundred thousand dollars in 2001, and over twenty-two million dollars during the last ten years;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and honor Barbara Drennen, Barbara Richards, and the Pediatric Interim Care Center for outstanding service to the citizens of Washington state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Pediatric Interim Care Center.

   I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

   4717 Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives

                     February 26, 2002.

                _____________________________

                Cynthia Zehnder, Chief Clerk