What is the CARE Act?

Approved by Governor Newsom in fall of 2022, the CARE Act, also known as Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act is a new framework to get people with untreated mental health and/or co-occurring disorders the support and care they need.

CARE Act is a voluntary civil court process designed to connect individuals struggling with certain untreated mental illnesses, and often also substance use challenges, with an individualized court ordered care plan for up to 24 months with county behavioral health services, under the oversight of a judge.