CARE courts seek to aid families struggling with mental health disorders

WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA THE CARE THEY NEED? CARE. COURTS ARE NOW ACROSS ALL OF CALIFORNIA. ITS PURPOSE IS TO CONNECT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND TO GIVE THEIR LOVED ONES A FIGHTING CHANCE. IT’S ESSENTIALLY A LIFELINE HERE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, JUDGE LARRY BROWN WILL OVERSEE THE CARE COURTS. HE’S PRESIDED OVER THE CRIMINAL MENTAL HEALTH COURTS FOR NEARLY A DECADE, AND SAYS THIS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER. AND I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I’VE SPOKEN TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE SAID, DOES IT REQUIRE MY SON, MY DAUGHTER, TO BE ARRESTED BEFORE THEY FINALLY BE ABLE TO GIVE IN SOME SERVICES? AND HERE, THIS IS A WAY TO FILL THE GAP. SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE CARE COURTS? IT ALLOWS FAMILY MEMBERS OR FIRST RESPONDERS TO PETITION A CIVIL COURT FOR TREATMENT AND SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH UNTREATED SCHIZOPHRENIA AND OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS. IT’S A CONTINUOUS CARE PLAN FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS THAT COULD EVEN PROVIDE HOUSING, DEPENDING ON THE CASE, BUT IT’S NOT FORCED ON THE INDIVIDUAL. THEY HAVE TO WANT TO GET THE TREATMENT AND BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD. IT’S GOING TO BE VERY TREATMENT FOCUSED. IT’S GOING TO BE A TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL AND WANT THEM TO LEAD A BETTER LIFE. PEOPLE LIKE NICOLE CABLE AT SACRAMENTO COUNTY’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, PART OF THE FOCUS FROM LAWMAKERS WAS TO HELP THE UNHOUSED POPULATION LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. BUT EARLY DATA FROM OTHER COUNTIES SHOWS IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE. SO CARE COURT IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOUSED OR UNHOUSED. WE HAVE FOUND OTHER COUNTIES HAVE REPORTED THAT MORE THAN 60% ARE HOUSED. AND SO WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT HERE IN SACRAMENTO. WE JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT WE GET. WE SPOKE TO JUDGE LARRY BROWN. HE SAID ONCE SOMEONE IS IN THE CARE COURT SYSTEM, THEY WILL SEE HIM PERIODICALLY FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. RIGHT NOW, THEIR FOCUS IS TO SPREAD AWARENESS SO THAT FAMILIES KNOW THEY HAVE THIS OPTION, BUT ALSO LET THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL DISORDERS KNOW THIS IS NOT A SWEEPING POWER THAT WOULD FORCE THEM INTO A MENTAL HOSPITAL. THIS IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THEM THE RIGHT TREATMENT. ALL RIGHT, CECIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND GLENN COUNTY STARTED THIS PROGRAM IN OCTOBER OF 2023. STAFF SAY THEY RECEIVED THREE PETITIONS AND 17 REFERRALS. SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY TELLS US

Sacramento County welcomes the expansion of the CARE court program as a tool to provide treatment to those suffering from schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. The state of California has now expanded CARE courts to all 58 counties. The community, assistance, recovery and empowerment act was first launched in seven counties back in 2023. Families or first responders can file a petition in civil court to help get someone with untreated or undiagnosed schizophrenia on a treatment plan."I look at it as a win if we at least get contact made by behavioral health professionals to talk to the individual and talk about potential options that could help them, help their family in going forward and, frankly, to keep them out of the criminal justice system," said Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Larry Brown.Brown said this program could be a lifeline for families but also said it does not have the power to impose conservatorships or hospitalizations on people. The individuals would have to receive treatment willingly.But the hope from mental health professionals is that this gets these individuals treatment before they have an encounter with law enforcement and end up in the criminal justice system. "I can't tell you how many times I have spoken to families who have said, does it require my son, my daughter, to be arrested before they finally would be able to give in some services, and here, this is a way to fill the gap," said Brown.Once a petition is filed in court, the case goes to Sacramento behavioral health services. The hope of many lawmakers was that the program could help Sacramento's homeless community. The requirements for the program are that you have to be at least 18 years old, willing to receive treatment and not currently in stabilized treatment. From there, the program provides up to a 24-month treatment plan with mental health professionals. Part of that treatment plan could include housing, depending on the case. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento County welcomes the expansion of the CARE court program as a tool to provide treatment to those suffering from schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

The state of California has now expanded CARE courts to all 58 counties. The community, assistance, recovery and empowerment act was first launched in seven counties back in 2023.

Families or first responders can file a petition in civil court to help get someone with untreated or undiagnosed schizophrenia on a treatment plan.

"I look at it as a win if we at least get contact made by behavioral health professionals to talk to the individual and talk about potential options that could help them, help their family in going forward and, frankly, to keep them out of the criminal justice system," said Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Larry Brown.

Brown said this program could be a lifeline for families but also said it does not have the power to impose conservatorships or hospitalizations on people. The individuals would have to receive treatment willingly.

But the hope from mental health professionals is that this gets these individuals treatment before they have an encounter with law enforcement and end up in the criminal justice system.

"I can't tell you how many times I have spoken to families who have said, does it require my son, my daughter, to be arrested before they finally would be able to give in some services, and here, this is a way to fill the gap," said Brown.

Once a petition is filed in court, the case goes to Sacramento behavioral health services. The hope of many lawmakers was that the program could help Sacramento's homeless community.

The requirements for the program are that you have to be at least 18 years old, willing to receive treatment and not currently in stabilized treatment. From there, the program provides up to a 24-month treatment plan with mental health professionals. Part of that treatment plan could include housing, depending on the case.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

CARE courts seek to aid families struggling with mental health disorders

Share

Share

Share

Top Picks