Gov. Newsom Signs CARE Court Into Law

Governor Newsom signs CARE Court into law alongside state and local leaders, stakeholders

SACRAMENTO — Alongside state and local leaders and Californians impacted by mental illness, Gov. Gavin Newsom Sept. 14 signed legislation enacting CARE Court, which will provide individuals with severe mental health and substance use disorders the care and services they need to get healthy.

The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act – SB 1338 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) – will provide help upstream, ahead of conservatorships and outside the walls of institutions. Under CARE Court, families, clinicians, first responders and others will be able to refer individuals who are suffering from schizophrenia spectrum or psychotic disorders.  

CARE Court will be implemented statewide and will start with a phased-in approach. The first cohort to implement CARE Court includes the counties of Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and San Francisco.

CARE Court received bipartisan and near-unanimous approval in both the state Senate and Assembly. The framework is supported by funding under the state’s $15.3 billion investment in addressing homelessness, including $1.5 billion for behavioral bridge housing; more than $11.6 billion annually for mental health programs throughout California; and more than $1.4 billion for our health and human services workforce. An additional $88.3 million in CARE Court start-up funds was provided for the state, counties, courts, self-help and legal aid.

CARE Court was created based on the evidence that people with untreated psychosis can be stabilized and housed in community-based care settings, with treatment and support. The plan focuses on people with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, who may also have substance use challenges. 

CARE Court will provide individuals with clinically appropriate, community-based and court-ordered care plans consisting of culturally and linguistically competent county mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. These include short-term stabilization medications, wellness and recovery supports, social services and housing. Services are provided to the individual while they live in the community. Plans can be between 12-24 months. In addition to their full clinical team, the client-centered approach also includes a volunteer supporter to help individuals make self-directed care decisions, and an attorney. 

The CARE Court framework includes real accountability. Counties and other local governments could be issued fines by the court if they are out of compliance. That money will be placed in the CARE Act Accountability Fund and will be used to support the efforts of the local government entities that paid the fines to serve individuals.  

Details: https://www.chhs.ca.gov/care-court/