CARE Act Implementation in the California Courts
Data updated September 2025
Overview
The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act seeks to provide mental health services, support, and accountability for Californians living with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. The court’s role is to oversee the case through the CARE Act process by monitoring progress, resolving each case, and providing accountability for all parties. The court also convenes the team providing services and support to ensure the right type of care is provided. CARE Act data elements reported by the courts give a high-level overview of how cases are progressing though the process.
The CARE Act aims to divert and prevent restrictive conservatorships or incarcerations through a court-approved CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan for up to 12 months that is initiated via a petition through the courts. The CARE Act requires the Judicial Council to report trial court data to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). The required data reporting from trial courts is outlined in WIC § 5985.1
California courts, with their county partners, implemented the CARE Act in phases. Seven courts (Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne) implemented on October 2, 2023, Los Angeles implemented on December 1, 2023, and the remaining courts implemented by December 1, 2024.
CARE Act petitions
CARE Act cases are initiated by filing a petition. Petitioners include certain family members, health care or social service providers, first responders, or respondents themselves.2
The first seven courts began accepting petitions on October 2, 2023. The increase in petitions in 2025 reflects statewide implementation of the CARE Act with all courts accepting CARE Act petitions starting in December 2024.
CARE Act hearings
One of the court’s roles in the CARE Act is to convene relevant local public agencies and stakeholders, including behavioral health and social service agencies, to coordinate the delivery of available services to respondents through CARE Act hearings.
CARE Act hearings can take place all throughout a CARE Act case. Hearings are held to determine eligibility, create CARE agreements and plans, check on the progress of the respondent and services provided by behavioral health, and facilitate graduation from the program.
The increase in hearings over time can be attributed to (1) more CARE Act petitions being filed and (2) more cases making their way through the CARE Act process. The significant increase in hearings in 2025 reflects statewide implementation of the CARE Act with all courts accepting CARE Act petitions starting in December 2024 and conducting CARE Act proceedings.
CARE agreements and plans
If an individual is eligible for the CARE Act, the court may approve a CARE agreement or order a CARE plan. A CARE agreement is a voluntary agreement between the respondent and the county behavioral health agency that includes an individualized range of community-based services and supports. If a CARE agreement is not reached, the court may then order the creation of a CARE plan. A CARE plan is a court-ordered plan that also includes an individualized range of community-based services and supports.
Both CARE agreements and CARE plans connect the respondent with services and treatment. CARE agreements are preferred since they allow for full agreement from both parties (the respondent and county behavioral health) for the service arrangement.
The vast majority of cases that have reached the stage of the CARE process where the court approves a service arrangement have entered into CARE agreements.
Notes
1This page reflects key data elements reported by the courts for the CARE Act program from October 2023 through September 2025. Trial courts report aggregate data; case-level data is not reported to the Judicial Council. Data is updated quarterly and subject to change.
2Visit the Adult Civil Mental Health page for a full list of petitioners.