California Implements CARE Courts Statewide To Mandate Treatment For People With Psychosis At Risk Of Hospitalization, Homelessness & Incarceration

On December 2, 2024, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and California Courts announced the statewide launch of California’s Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, which creates a new pathway to housing and treatment for people with untreated or undertreated schizophrenia who are at risk of hospitalization, homelessness, and incarceration through CARE Courts. The CARE Act implementation started in October 2023 with seven counties (Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne). Los Angeles County launched on December 1, 2023. San Mateo, Kern, Mariposa, and Napa counties began implementing on or before December 1 . . .