Department of Health Services

​Goals

The Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) program guides clients along their path to recovery by offering tailored support and nurturing connections within the community. Reducing barriers to essential services and minimizing the need for emergency interventions champions client self-determination and recovery in a supportive, respectful, and community-integrated framework.

Objectives​

• ​Promote recovery and optimize community functioning by providing support at the appropriate level of care.
  
• Advance and increase timely linkages to services through collaboration and coordination with various community partners - including Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and Social Security Income.
  
• Elevate and improve client-driven recovery-oriented culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches to address mental illness and any co-occurring substance use disorders.
  
• Further client self-determination in the least restrictive setting with transitions to a lower level of service intensity as appropriate.
  
• Reduce emergency room visits, psychiatric hospitalizations, admissions to long-term facilities, arrests, incarcerations, and homelessness.
  

​What is CARE Act?

CARE Act also known as CARE Court is a new framework to connect people with mental health and substance use disorders to voluntary treatment through a civil court process. Participants can receive many kinds of support to promote their recovery and well-being, which may include counseling, medication, housing options, social services, and other resources.

Who is eligible for CARE Court?

The CARE Court program is for people who are:

1. 18 years of age or older.
2. Has a diagnosis in disorder class: Schizophrenia Spectrum or Other Psychotic Disorder.
   
3. Currently experiencing behaviors and symptoms associated with severe mental illness (SMI).
   
4. Not clinically stabilized in ongoing voluntary treatment.
   
5. Unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision OR in need of services and support to prevent relapse or deterioration that would likely result in grave disability or serious harm to the person or others.
   
6. Participation in a CARE Plan or Agreement is the least restrictive alternative.
   
7. Likely to benefit from participating in a CARE Plan or Agreement.
   

Who can file a petition under the CARE Act to begin CARE Court proceedings?

​​The following adult persons can file a petition:

1. ​​​Person living with the respondent.
   
2. Family members (i.e., parents, siblings, grandparents, and children).
   
3. Hospital Director or designee.
4. Public Guardian or designee.
5. Licensed behavioral health provider or designee, if services have been provided within 30 days prior to submitting the petition.
6. Director of Adult Protective Services or designee.
   
7. Director of California Indian Health Services Program or designee.
   
8. Judge of a tribal court.
9. Respondent (i.e., self-petition).
   

​​​Senate Bill 42 clarifies the type of evidence that may support a CARE petition and introduces a second option for demonstrating prior hospitalizations. This evidence may include, but is not limited to, documentary records from the facility where the respondent was detained or a signed declaration from the petitioner if they have personal knowledge of the detentions. (W&I Code 5979​)

Do Not Meet Eligible Criteria

​If you or your loved one do not meet the eligibility criteria for CARE Court but are interested in connecting with or learning more about other BHS programs, services, and resources, please contact our BHS-Screening and Coordination (BHS-SAC) at:

• ​Phone: 916-875-1055
  
• Toll-Free: 888-881-4881
  

The BHS-SAC is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For mental health crisis calls, the BHS-SAC is available 24/7.

Additional details on the petition process, including CARE Court forms, are available through the links on the right ribbon. For any questions related to CARE Court, please email dhs-bhs-care_court@saccounty.gov. ​