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On July 22, the Sacramento County Department of Health Services, in partnership with the Superior Court, presented an update on the County’s implementation of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Program (CARE Court) during a public meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
Since launching in December 2024, the CARE Court program, part of a statewide initiative designed to connect individuals with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders to court approved care agreements or care plans, has begun to show early signs of progress while navigating complex challenges.
Between December and July, a total of 74 CARE Court petitions were filed with the court and an additional 51 referrals were submitted to Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services (BHS). Of those, 13 clients were granted CARE Court and 12 entered into CARE Agreements, the structured treatment and housing plans that are central to the program’s goals. Additionally, 25 petitions or referrals were dismissed, often because individuals did not meet the program’s eligibility criteria.
Despite those dismissals, BHS staff say the program is successfully reaching individuals in need. Since implementation, twelve clients have voluntarily connected to services outside of the court process, and twelve individuals were referred to the County’s Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) program after previously experiencing homelessness. The BHS CARE Team also successfully linked 23 individuals to either a Community Outreach Recovery Empowerment (CORE) provider or Full-Service Partnership (FSP) provider for more intensive behavioral health services.
“What’s important to note is that the data doesn’t show the whole picture,” said Sacramento County Behavioral Health Director, Dr. Ryan Quist. “When an individual’s petition is dismissed from the CARE Court process, BHS staff work to link those individuals to other programs that are better suited.”
The BHS CARE Team, which includes clinical and peer support staff, continues to work closely with Court partners, inpatient hospitals, Correctional Health, the Public Guardian and co-response teams to identify and engage eligible participants. In cases where individuals do not meet the CARE Court diagnostic criteria, the team works to connect them to other appropriate services, including Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) where appropriate.
While early outcomes show promise, County staff have also highlighted several operational challenges. These include staffing clinical positions, engaging clients who do not believe they need help, co-occurring substance use disorders, and finding or maintaining stable housing for participants with complex needs. A recent policy change within the Sheriff’s Office has also impacted field staff's ability to safely respond to certain community situations involving aggressive or high-risk individuals.
The CARE Court program is expected to grow in the coming months as referrals increase and staff continue to build on cross-agency collaboration. Sacramento County remains committed to making CARE Court a client-centered, effective pathway to care for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. To learn more about CARE Court in Sacramento County, visit the County’s CARE Court webpage.