LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District, in collaboration with the Superior Court of Los Angeles County or the court, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health or LACDMH, and Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office/Independent Defense Counsel Office or IDCO Nov. 30 announced the launch of the state-funded Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment program, better known as CARE Court.
Starting Dec. 1, qualified individuals — such as a family member, spouse, roommate, emergency responder, or licensed medical or mental health professional — will be able to petition the court for an eligible individual with untreated schizophrenia or other associated psychotic disorders to receive treatment and services to stabilize their symptoms and continue on a path of recovery and well-being.
LA County CARE Court was initially set to launch in December 2024, but the court and the county agreed to move the start date up one year to provide early access to this new valuable tool to county residents. The intent of the CARE program is to provide an additional tool to help families and individuals find support for their loved ones. For individuals who qualify and agree to participate in CARE Court, housing options, along with connections to social services, are provided via a CARE Plan.
To seek these services, a family member, clinician or other person files what is known as a CARE Act petition for someone who is in need of help. Filing a petition is free. A judge reviews the petition and determines if the person is eligible for the CARE program. Specific eligibility requirements can be found at www.lacourt.org/care.
Rather than cycling through jails and emergency rooms, CARE Court gives vulnerable individuals (and those who care for them) another path to access key services. Participants can receive many kinds of support to promote recovery and well-being, including counseling, medication, and social services. If an individual is accepted into the program, their CARE team of clinicians, case managers and others work with them to develop a plan that will provide services tailored to their needs.
The CARE program is strictly voluntary. Participants cannot be forced to participate in services — including taking medication — against their will and can leave the program at any time. There are no civil or criminal penalties for choosing not to participate in the CARE process or programs. Respondents who qualify for CARE Court services will be provided free legal representation through the Public Defender’s newly formed and separately operated IDCO. The attorneys assigned to CARE Court respondents will provide encouragement to their clients and advocate on their behalf to receive all available services.
CARE Court begins accepting petitions tomorrow, Dec. 1. Petitions can be submitted electronically through any electronic filing service provider listed at www.lacourt.org/division/efiling/civil_providers.aspx, or in person at any location listed at www.lacourt.org/CARE. Individuals who are represented by an attorney must file petitions electronically, while individuals without an attorney may file petitions electronically or in person.
For more information about the services provided by LACDMH, please call 1-800-854-7771 or visit: dmh.lacounty.gov/get-help-now/ where you can request service referrals, crisis assessments, field-based services and an emotional support warmline. The number is staffed 24/7 and has designated personnel to meet the needs of those who served in the military.
Interested parties can also call or text 988 to connect with someone through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides supports to those who are in crisis or experiencing emotional distress. This service is available 24/7 throughout the U.S. via phone calls, text messaging, or online chat. Finally, you can text ‘LA’ to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor via text message.