Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation establishing CARE Court, a paradigm shift that will give people with severe mental health and substance use disorders the care and services they need to get healthy.
He was joined by state and local leaders, as well as Californians affected by mental illness.
The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act (SB 1338), sponsored by Senators Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) and Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana), would provide assistance before conservatorships and outside of institutional walls.
Families, medical professionals, emergency personnel, and others will be allowed to refer people with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic diseases under CARE Court.
“CARE Court will now become a reality in our state, bringing hope and a fresh route forward for thousands of suffering Californians and enabling their loved ones to assist,” said Governor Newsom. “With overwhelming support from the Legislature and stakeholders throughout California.”
“I applaud our lawmakers and the large group of allies who helped make today possible. I look forward to our continued collaboration as we carry out this game-changing initiative in communities all over California.”
CARE Court will be introduced gradually and over the whole state. The counties of Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and San Francisco are a part of the first cohort to use CARE Court.
Both the state Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly approved the CARE Court with broad bipartisan support.
Unprecedented funding, including $1.5 billion for behavioural bridge housing, more than $11.6 billion annually for mental health programmes across California, and more than $1.4 billion for our health and human services workforce, is provided to support the framework as part of the state’s $15.3 billion investment in addressing homelessness.
CARE Court start-up grants totaling an extra $63 million were given to counties, courts, self-help organisations, and legal assistance.
Senator Thomas J. Umberg stated, “I have personally seen the good that may result when our judicial, executive, and legislative departments work together to handle sensitive populations and complicated concerns like mental health, veterans, at-risk adolescents, and drug use” (D-Santa Ana).
“We brought together the many frameworks and best practises for cooperation in SB 1338 to create something brand-new and groundbreaking in California.
Together with Senator Eggman, I’m delighted to have led this initiative, and I’m looking forward to greater developments in the coming years.
The conclusion that our behavioural health system is flawed and has enabled too many individuals with serious mental illness to slip through the cracks is unavoidable, according to the evidence seen in town after community in California, said Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton).
“The problem is manifesting itself on our streets, and Californians seek a resolution to the moral dilemma that arises whenever we see such misery up close.
A demographic that is notoriously difficult to reach now has a vital new entry point into the behavioural health system thanks to the CARE Act.
We must work tirelessly to support those on our streets who are suffering from serious mental illness in order to uphold basic human decency.
I commend Governor Newsom and Secretary Ghaly for taking the initiative to draught this audacious and urgent change.
Additionally, I want to congratulate Senator Umberg for their outstanding collaboration in advancing the CARE Act through the legislature.
Based on the fact that persons with untreated psychosis may be stabilised and placed in settings for community-based care while receiving treatment and support, CARE Court was established.
The approach focuses on those who may struggle with drug use problems and have schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic diseases.
The Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, Dr. Mark Ghaly, stated that the CARE Act “recognises that to serve those with the most complex behavioural health conditions, we must do the hard work of prioritising those who need help the most, providing a comprehensive CARE plan that honours self-determination to the greatest extent possible, and holding ourselves accountable to delivering services and housing that are key to long-term stability and recovery.”
“Today is important, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of the many enthusiastic and considerate people and organisations we’ve worked with over the last few months to create this ground-breaking legislation.
We now focus all of our efforts on implementing the CARE Act programme in counties all over the state, standing on the shoulders of those who leaned in to bring us to this point.
putting in extra effort to cooperate, prepare, and work so that people who may benefit from this new avenue can do so as quickly as possible.
Clinically appropriate, community-based, and court-ordered Care Plans with culturally and linguistically competent local mental health and drug use disorder treatment options will be made available to persons through CARE Court.
These include social services, housing, wellness and recovery supports, and pharmaceuticals for temporary stabilisation.
While the person is a resident of the community, services are offered to them. Plans might range from 12 to 24 months.
The client-centered approach involves a volunteer supporter to assist people in making self-directed care choices in addition to their whole clinical team and an attorney.
“NAMI is happy to endorse the CARE Act and is looking forward to seeing this law become a reality in every community throughout the state.
Thousands of people in California who are searching for assistance to lead more fulfilled lives may find CARE Court to be a lifeline, according to NAMI California CEO Jessica Cruz.
Real accountability is included within the CARE Court structure. If counties and other local governments fail to comply, the court may impose sanctions.
The funds will be deposited in the CARE Act Accountability Fund and utilised to assist the local government organisations that paid the penalties in order to assist citizens.