CARE Court

Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program

Overview

• A new civil court process designed to link individuals who have specific mental health diagnoses to county behavioral health services, under the oversight of a judge, for up to 24 consecutive months.
• Includes a clinically-indicated, individualized treatment plan, with supportive services and a dedicated team.
• Meant as a diversion process to prevent conservatorship or incarceration.

CARE Court:

• Is NOT a criminal court.
• Does NOT include persons with any/all mental health conditions.
• Is NOT a solution for homelessness.

Resources

• CARE Court website: https://www.chhs.ca.gov/care-act/
• CARE Act Resource Page: https://care-act.org/
• California Courts:  https://www.courts.ca.gov/
• Care Respondent Rights: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/care113.pdf
• CARE Court Fact Sheet: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Fact-Sheet_-CARE-Court-1.pdf
• Information on psychiatric advance directives: https://nrc-pad.org/states/california-faq/
• CARE Act Eligibility Criteria: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/CARE-Act-Eligibility-Criteria.pdf
• For more information visit: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/CARE-Act-JC-Fact-Sheet-FINAL-3.20.23.pdf
• Self-Help: https://www.delnorte.courts.ca.gov/general-information/care-act

For more information on CARE Court please call: Meaghan McGlasson , Shiann Hogan , or Jennifer Coats at (707) 464-7224.