The CARE (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment) program represents a significant shift in how communities address mental health crises, especially for individuals facing severe mental illnesses. This civil court process is designed to offer compassionate and effective support, ensuring participants receive clinically appropriate, community-based services tailored to their cultural and linguistic needs. The core of the CARE program mental health initiative is to provide individualized CARE plans, initially lasting up to 12 months with possible 12-month extensions, focused on long-term recovery and stability.
What is the CARE Mental Health Program?
The CARE program is not a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges. Instead, it specifically targets individuals with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders who meet particular criteria. This proactive approach aims to intervene before these individuals become entangled in the criminal justice system, requiring state hospitalization, or facing LPS (Lanterman-Petris-Short) conservatorships. It serves as an upstream diversion, recognizing that many individuals can achieve stability and begin their journey to recovery within less restrictive, community-based care settings. The CARE program mental health framework acknowledges advancements in treatment models, including longer-acting antipsychotic medications, and emphasizes the importance of a dedicated clinical team and stable housing.
Key Services and Supports within CARE
A crucial aspect of the CARE program mental health approach is its comprehensive range of services. CARE plans are designed to be individualized, ensuring participants receive the specific support they need. These services can include:
- Short-term stabilization medications: To manage immediate symptoms and crises.
- Wellness and recovery supports: To foster long-term well-being and independence.
- Connection to social services: Crucially, this includes housing assistance, recognizing that stable housing is fundamental for successful treatment and recovery. The program understands that maintaining treatment adherence and achieving stability is exceptionally challenging while experiencing homelessness.
The CARE process is initiated through a petition to the Court, which can be filed by various individuals, including care providers, family members, and first responders. Participants are guaranteed legal counsel and can choose a voluntary supporter to assist them in understanding and making informed decisions about their care. This supporter empowers participants to maintain self-direction throughout the process. The CARE plan itself is a collaborative effort, ensuring that services are not only identified but also coordinated to address the participant’s unique needs. This integrated approach includes linking clinical treatment and housing, which are often fragmented in traditional systems. Furthermore, the creation of a Psychiatric Advance Directive allows participants to proactively document their treatment preferences, safeguarding their autonomy during potential future mental health crises.
Accountability and the Path to Recovery
Accountability is a two-way street within the CARE program mental health initiative. While participants are expected to engage with their CARE plans, local governments are also held responsible for providing the necessary care. The program leverages existing robust funding streams available to counties for behavioral health, including billions allocated for mental health services and housing solutions. CARE Court participants are prioritized for bridge housing programs, further emphasizing the commitment to providing stable living environments. To ensure accountability from local governments, the Court has the authority to order sanctions and, in extreme cases, appoint an agent if services outlined in the CARE plan are not adequately provided.
In cases where a participant is unable to successfully complete their CARE plan despite receiving the outlined services and supports, the Court may utilize existing legal frameworks, such as the LPS Act, to ensure their safety. Failure to complete a CARE plan, when services have been provided, will be considered in subsequent LPS Act hearings within six months, creating a presumption that the individual requires more intensive intervention.
Ultimately, the CARE program mental health initiative aims to pave a path towards sustained wellness and recovery for thousands of Californians. By focusing on early intervention, comprehensive support, and mutual accountability, CARE offers a hopeful and effective approach to addressing the complex challenges of severe mental illness and homelessness.
