LA County to Implement Improvements to CARE Court Program for Individuals with Untreated Mental Health Disorders
Motion by Hahn and Barger calls for streamlined processing, seamless referral process for first responders
Los Angeles, CA – This morning, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to make improvements to the County’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment program, better known as CARE Court. Launched in Los Angeles County on December 1, 2023, CARE Court is a state-funded program that allows qualified individuals – such as a family member, spouse, roommate, emergency responder, or licensed medical or mental health professional – to petition the Court for an eligible individual with untreated schizophrenia or other associated psychotic disorders to receive treatment and services to stabilize their symptoms and continue on a path of recovery and well-being. Among other improvements, today’s motion directs the County’s Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) to develop expedited mechanisms for first responders to make seamless referrals for CARE Court, and to increase community awareness and understanding of CARE Court.
“CARE Court is a critical tool that has offered hope to families who love someone with severe untreated mental illness. But we saw the need for improvements, so we studied them and now we’re finally moving forward with them,” said Supervisor Hahn. “This opportunity to get people living with schizophrenia the care they desperately need is too valuable not to keep trying to make it the best it can be.”
L to R: LA County Director of Mental Health Dr. Lisa H. Wong; LA Superior Court then-Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner; and Supervisor Janice Hahn on November 30, 2023 announcing the launch of CARE Court.
Through a collaborative inter-agency effort between LACDMH, the Independent Defense Counsel Office (IDCO), and the Los Angeles Superior Court (LASC), LA County started its CARE program one year ahead of the state’s mandate for all 58 counties. Today’s motion also now calls for closer collaboration between those agencies to streamline processing of CARE Court cases.
“The need for a program like CARE Court is immense and we must ensure it’s meeting that need as effectively as possible,” stated Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “By evaluating what’s working and what’s not, we can make targeted improvements that enhance outcomes for individuals, families, and our communities. This is about strengthening a vital tool so it delivers the compassionate, coordinated care people deserve.”
In February, the Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Hahn that called on LACDMH to analyze the first year of the program. That analysis revealed that while there has been progress, particularly with getting people the help they need by establishing CARE agreements and CARE plans, there have also been challenges that needed to be addressed in order to make the program more impactful.
“NAMI GLAC is proud to represent the voice of tens of thousands of individuals and families throughout LA County affected by mental illness. NAMI GLAC was also proud to stand in support of the CARE Act and CARE Court. While CARE Court remains a critical resource to the mental health community, there is work to be done to ensure the program reaches its full potential, such as revamping protocols to make the it more inclusive for family and petitioners, addressing housing challenges, and enhancing training for first responders who can make referrals to the program. We thank Supervisors Hahn and Barger for their leadership and believe this motion directing the County to report back on improvements to CARE Court is an important step in the right direction,” said Traute Winters, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Greater Los Angeles County (NAMI GLAC).