Lorenzo Leon remembers what life was like before CARE Court.
“Being on the street is no way to live. So, you know I did what I have to do, straightened up so now I have a place to live,” said Lorenzo.
And later this month, he is scheduled to become Sacramento County’s first CARE Court graduate, a milestone not only for him and his family but for the County team that stood beside him every step of the way.
CARE Court, short for Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment, is a civil court process designed to connect individuals living with untreated schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses, such as bipolar I disorder, to community-based treatment, services and housing support. The program creates a structured plan, ordered by the court, that holds systems accountable for delivering care while providing participants with a pathway toward stability.
Michael Nevans, a Mental Health Program Coordinator with Sacramento County, says the program represents a shift in how the community responds to its most vulnerable residents.
“CARE Court as a program specifically has really opened up the possibility for the mental health treatment of people with severe mental illness in our community,” Nevans said. “Historically we have believed in openness and willingness to engage for outpatient services. Often, the people with the greatest needs are the most vulnerable and the least likely to seek help. CARE Court allows the County to be responsible for providing mental health services to all people, not just people who can self-advocate.”
For Lorenzo and his mother, that accountability made all the difference.
There were times when Lorenzo would leave home, struggling with his illness and unsure where to turn. But County staff didn’t give up.
“He kept leaving me but every time he’d leave me, she would go look for him,” his mother recalled of a County team member. “And she would find him and bring him back to me. She was really insistent, which I was so happy about because she kept after him to come back.”
Each month, Lorenzo checked in with the court and his care team. He began taking his medications consistently and accessing additional services. Progress wasn’t immediate, his mother said, but it was steady.
“It took a while to get started, but eventually now it’s been a year and pretty successful,” she said. “I think it was a good experience that he had to go to someone and talk to them, make sure that he is doing what he is supposed to be doing.”
The Honorable Lawrence Brown of the Sacramento County Superior Court, who has presided over CARE Court cases, said he has seen firsthand the impact of that coordinated approach.
“I can recall that the mom in particular was a bit skeptical whether or not this was going to be able to make any real difference and I think that she was won over by the commitment of the team and by the provider,” said Judge Brown.
Deputy County Counsel Andrew Crouse said Lorenzo’s journey reflects what the program was designed to do.
“Happily, he has accepted those services and has really, really benefitted across his journey so far in CARE Court,” said Crouse. “He is doing much better according to pretty much everyone’s report. His own mother, the psychiatrist, social workers everyone has seen the difference in how he is living a better life and his symptoms are under control, and he doesn’t have his illness getting in the way anymore of being able to be successful in his life.”
Today, Lorenzo is housed, taking his medication and focused on his future and preparing for his CARE Court graduation. His journey through CARE Court reflects not only his commitment, but the County’s coordinated effort to ensure residents with the most serious mental health needs are not left behind.
For his mother, the outcome speaks for itself. After a year of structure, support and persistence, she sees a difference and a son who is back on track. Watch the video below to see Lorenzo's full story.