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
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 in order to prevent institutionalization and ensure appropriate care.
Clinical Evaluation
After outreach by the county, 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
An individualized CARE plan is developed by the county behavioral health agency, participant, participant’s legal counsel, and supporter. The CARE 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 party to the court order for up to 12 months.
Support
County behavioral health agency begins treatment to support the recovery and stability of the participant, and the court will review and update the CARE plan and associated progress during regular status hearings. The court may approve the participant to remain in the CARE plan for up to one additional year.
Success
Successful completion and graduation by the Court. 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 crisis.
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
