The CARE Court program, offering care plans for individuals with severe mental health disorders, is underway in San Luis Obispo County.
There is a new countywide support program for people who suffer from untreated mental health and substance use disorders and their families. Two years after Governor Gavin Newsome signed the statewide CARE Court into law, San Luis Obispo County received funding and rolled out the local program on December of 2024.
The Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act provides personalized care plans for individuals with severe mental health disorders, particularly schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.
“It’s a first of its kind here in SLO,” Caroline Schmidt, SLO County Behavioral Health Department public information officer, told Estero Bay News. “It is certainly something that we’re excited to learn more about, as far as how we can offer the program to participants and work with families to make sure that their loved ones are appropriately being petitioned.”
Based on data from counties with early implementation of the program, Schmidt said 10 to 20 CARE Court participants are expected locally.
San Luis Obispo Superior Courts oversee all CARE Court petitions and proceedings. Petitions can be submitted by anyone, including family members, law enforcement, and other first responders, as long as they are familiar with the individual needing help. Individuals may also “self-petition” or enroll themselves into the civil court-ordered treatment.
“The difficult thing about people with serious mental health disorders, specifically psychotic disorders like schizophrenia,” Schmidt said, “is they often are not agreeing to voluntary treatment for whatever reason, and so really trying to get them into a consistent treatment program can be difficult, especially if they’re facing homelessness.”
Once a judge determines eligibility, the individual in need is then connected to County Behavioral Health for treatment, housing, and other supports under a directed personalized CARE plan that can last up to 24 months.
“This care plan is super personalized,” Schmidt said. “It has goals for them (petitioners) to reach, it keeps them on track, keeps it timely, and makes sure that they can really work with psychologists and really work with medication management. Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders can be difficult for somebody who’s experiencing those types of severe, untreated mental illnesses to step into treatment by themselves — they tend to need a little bit more support.”
The State estimates up to 12,000 Californians are eligible for services under the CARE Act.
For someone to enter the program they need to meet several criteria and then agree to the CARE plan set by the courts to begin their treatment. Participants must be 18 years or older, experience specific health and safety criteria, and have a schizophrenia or psychotic disorder diagnosis from a licensed clinical professional. An individual cannot currently be clinically stabilized or in ongoing voluntary treatment.
Part of the positive impact of the new program is expected to come from combining the County’s first Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, which offers transitional housing and support to people experiencing homelessness who have serious behavioral health conditions.
“The courts jobs are to ensure that the services and the housing are being offered and that the needs of the participant are being met,” said Schmidt.
Funded by a $7.9 million grant from the State Department of Health Care Services, the Bridge program provides treatment of mental health and substance use disorders with supportive housing that transitions residents into permanent housing while reducing the chance of relapse into homelessness or incarceration.
The most recent Point in Time count conducted by the County found 1,175 community members were experiencing homelessness, with 800 individuals unsheltered.
Behavioral Health Bridge Housing offers 18 new supportive housing units in the City of San Luis Obispo. Eight units offer standard rental assistance agreements for up to two years while residents partake in treatment. The remaining 10 units are to be used as short term (typically 12 months) housing that offers more intensive care under licensed healthcare staff who remain directly on-site 24/7.
Because the CARE Court program is new, no data exists. As of this interview, one petitioner had started the process with more expected as individuals and agencies become more aware of the program.
CARE Court is a not a criminal court and is not for persons with all mental health conditions. While a judge can order an eligible individual to attend a petition hearing, they cannot force the individual to undergo CARE Court treatment services or take medications involuntarily. If an eligible participant decides to not participate in their CARE plan, they may still be scheduled for additional court hearings and be terminated from the CARE proceedings and/or the Court may use existing law to ensure their safety.
All 58 counties in California, now have CARE Courts. Petitions for the CARE Court and legal iinformation are available at the San Luis Obispo County Court House and online at www.slo.courts.ca.gov. Information about Behavioral Health CARE Court treatment under the CARE Act can be found online at www.slocounty.ca.gov/CARECourt.