How can the CARE Act Help Someone You Know?
The CARE Act creates a new pathway to deliver mental health and substance use disorder services to the most severely impaired Californians who too often suffer in homelessness or incarceration without treatment.
The CARE Act moves care and support upstream, providing the most vulnerable Californians with access to critical behavioral health services, housing and support.
THE CARE ACT TRANSFORMS OUR APPROACH
How to Receive Services
A wide range of people can request an individual to enter the CARE process. The process will connect eligible individuals with services to support their recovery and stability.
Referral
Family members, behavioral health providers, and first responders with a history of engagement with the individual or other parties specified in the CARE Act may refer an individual with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder who meets specific criteria to prevent institutionalization and ensure appropriate care.
Clinical Evaluation
After the county’s outreach, if the individual is unable to voluntarily engage in services, the court reviews the petition for evidence as to whether the individual meets the CARE criteria and appoints legal counsel and a voluntary supporter selected by the individual if desired.
The court may also order a clinical evaluation to help determine the individual’s eligibility for CARE. If the individual is determined to meet the CARE criteria, the court orders the development of a CARE plan.
Care Plan
The county behavioral health agency, the participant, the participant’s legal counsel, and the supporter develop an individualized CARE plan. The plan may include behavioral health treatment, stabilization medication, and a housing plan. The court reviews and adopts the CARE plan, with both the participant and county behavioral health as parties to the court order for up to 12 months.
Support
The county behavioral health agency begins treatment to support the participant’s recovery and stability. The court will review and update the CARE plan and associated progress during regular status hearings. The court may approve the participant’s continued participation in the CARE plan for up to one additional year.
Success
Successful completion and graduation by the Court. The participant remains eligible for ongoing treatment, supportive services, and housing in the community to support long-term recovery. The participant may elect to execute a Psychiatric Advance Directive, allowing them to document their preferences for treatment in advance of potential future mental health crises.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for CARE Act proceedings, the individual must meet all the following criteria:
- Be 18 years old or older.
- Have a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder.
- Be currently experiencing a mental illness that is severe in degree and persistent in duration, which may cause behavioral functioning which interferes substantially with the primary activities of daily living, and which may result in an inability to maintain stable adjustment and independent functioning without treatment, support, and rehabilitation for a long or indefinite period of time.
- Not currently clinically stabilized in an on-going voluntary treatment program.
Meet one of the following:
- The person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision and the person’s condition is substantially deteriorating.
- The person is in need of services and supports in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would likely result in grave disability or serious harm to the person or others, as defined in Section 5150.
- CARE would be the least restrictive alternative to ensure the person’s recovery and stability.
- Be likely to benefit from participation in CARE.
CARE Act Myths vs Facts
Myth
Myth 1: The CARE Act forces individuals into treatment against their will.
Fact
Fact 1: The CARE Act allows for the creation of both voluntary agreements and court-ordered plans, focusing on those who are most vulnerable and unable to care for themselves due to severe mental illnesses. The court process ensures that the individual’s condition and needs are thoroughly evaluated, and decisions are made with judicial oversight
Myth 2: The CARE Act only focuses on medication management.
Fact 2: The CARE Act is comprehensive and includes a range of supports beyond medication, such as mental health treatment, housing assistance, and other services tailored to individual needs. This holistic approach is designed to provide a supportive framework that addresses various aspects of a person’s well-being
Myth 3: The CARE Act is implemented statewide all at once.
Fact 3: The implementation of the CARE Act is phased. Initial implementation began with a few counties in early 2023, and the remaining counties are required to start by December 1, 2024. This staggered rollout allows for adjustments and improvements based on early outcomes.
Myth 4: The CARE Act lacks support for families and caregivers.
Fact 4: The CARE Act provides resources and training for families and caregivers to effectively support their loved ones. Health Management Associates (HMA) offers specific training and resources to assist stakeholders, including families, in understanding and navigating the CARE process.
Myth 5: There is no public oversight or input in the CARE Act’s implementation.
Fact 5: The CARE Act includes provisions for public oversight and input. The Judicial Council and other agencies involved in the implementation are required to collect data and report on the program’s progress. There are also opportunities for public comment and participation in shaping the rules and processes related to the CARE Act.
Myth 6: The CARE Act is being funded with new money from the state.
Fact 6:The CARE Act does not use new funding; instead, it reorganizes how existing resources are used to help people with severe mental illnesses. It creates a better system for getting individuals the support and services they already have access to under current programs, without needing extra state budget funds. This makes the CARE Act a new process for helping people, not a new program that requires new money.
Looking for Additional Information?
Fresno County Behavioral Health Information
Fresno County Behavioral Health Links
Want more information?
Fresno County (24/7) Access Line: 1 800 654-3937
