Like much of the country, California has started to acknowledge the need for increased mental health care services. With high instances of people dealing with issues like behavioral health conditions and homelessness, the state has started looking for ways to get people the care they deserve. The California CARE Act changes represent a statewide effort to provide comprehensive and compassionate services for those people most in need.
In this article, we break down what the law means and who it helps so you have a better understanding of how it could help if you’re dealing with a severe mental health condition.
Founded in 2010, A Mission For Michael (AMFM) offers specialized mental health care across California, Minnesota, and Virginia. Our accredited facilities provide residential and outpatient programs, utilizing evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR.
Our dedicated team of licensed professionals ensures every client receives the best care possible, supported by accreditation from The Joint Commission. We are committed to safety and personalized treatment plans.
Understanding California’s Mental Health System
California has unfortunately faced increasing mental health concerns in recent years. According to state data, more than 1.2 million adults live with a serious mental illness, and one in three children lives with severe emotional concerns.1 On top of that, 82% of the unhoused report having a serious mental health condition.2 And, unfortunately, unsheltered homelessness has rapidly increased in recent years, with around 187,000 people, which is nearly 24% of the nation’s total unhoused population.3
Hospitals and emergency departments often become the default care settings for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Data shows that nearly one eighth of all emergency department visits involve mental health or substance use issues, and that many people spend unnecessary time in the hospital. This is often the case, even when they’re ready for discharge.4 Much of this has to do with the limited availability of mental health services and resources.
These patterns have helped bring about the implementation of the CARE Act for California’s severe mental health population.
What Is the CARE Act in California?
The CARE ACT, which stands for “Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment”, was originally signed into law in 2022 under SB1338. This legislation is a community-based program that provides services and support for people dealing with specific psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia.
The Community Assistance Recovery Empowerment Act in CA serves as an intervention for the most severely impaired so they can avoid hospitalizations, incarcerations, or conservatorships.5 The goal of this law is to provide earlier action and support for people with severe mental conditions. It also holds local governments accountable for providing these people with services.
Next, we take a closer look at what the act involves.
California CARE Act Expansion SB 27 Explained
Under the expanded SB 27, California has included CARE Act eligibility for bipolar disorder with psychotic features. This expanded bill for the CARE Act works to improve court coordination so people are less likely to cycle through the system. In other words, it ensures that people receive intervention more quickly when mental health deteriorates.6
California’s CARE court law for 2025 is not a criminal proceeding and does not involve prosecution or punishment. Instead, the focus is on connecting people to care and reducing repeated psychiatric crises. The court’s role is to oversee participation and ensure services are offered, not to assign blame.
Who the CARE Act Is Designed to Help
The CARE Act focuses on adults experiencing severe psychotic symptoms related to a psychotic disorder, like schizophrenia, or bipolar 1 disorder with psychotic symptoms. Many people who fall within this category have experienced repeated hospitalizations, periods of homelessness, or encounters with the justice system because of untreated mental illness rather than criminal behavior.
People who are eligible for a CARE plan are those who are unable to meet their basic needs, like finding shelter, grooming, eating, or managing medications, because of their symptoms.
How Someone Enters the CARE Process
People enter California’s CARE court treatment support usually through a petition by a family member, doctor, therapist, first responder, medical professional, or even the person themselves.
Once someone files a petition, the court reviews whether the person appears to meet the CARE Act’s eligibility criteria for California’s mental health services. If the judge thinks the person is eligible for services, they will send a county health team to meet with that person for further evaluation and to understand their situation.
If the person qualifies, the person, their lawyer, and the county health team work together to create a CARE agreement or plan. The plan can include therapy, medication management, case management, and finding safe housing. After the judge reviews the plan, the county health team works to get the person the services they need to fulfill that plan.
What the CARE Act Is and Is Not
When new laws are put into place, people naturally wonder how these might affect access to care, personal rights, and treatment options. That’s why it’s important to clarify what the law does and does not do, so you can better understand what may support you or someone you love. Here’s a breakdown of what California’s mental health court CARE Act is and is not:
What It Is
Essentially, the CARE Act provides pathways into treatment for people who have repeatedly fallen outside of the systems of care. The process is about recovery, with plans that focus on each person’s clinical needs rather than trying to fit them into a one-size-fits-all approach. Having the courts oversee this process ensures that people get the services they need, their plans remain updated, and they do not slip through the cracks.
Participation is also time-limited. CARE plans are not open-ended or permanent, and the goal is to help people stabilize, engage in treatment, and eventually transition out of court supervision.
What It Is Not
The CARE Act is not a criminal prosecution or automatic hospitalization. The program is separate from the criminal justice system, with its purpose being to expand care instead of imposing punishment.
The law also does not expand to every behavioral health condition. It applies to a narrow group that meets specific criteria. Finally, CARE Court is not the same as permanent conservatorship. It works as a temporary, treatment-focused intervention rather than a lifelong legal status.
Potential Benefits and Challenges
As with most laws, there are always benefits as well as challenges. One of the most significant benefits is the potential for people to get treatment earlier, before symptoms worsen into repeated psychiatric emergencies. By creating a structured path into care, the law aims to intervene sooner rather than waiting for another crisis to land someone in an emergency department or jail.
There is also clearer coordination between systems. Instead of hospitals, housing agencies, outpatient providers, and courts working separately, CARE plans bring these pieces together. Having this type of coordination helps to stop the cycle of continued hospitalization or incarceration without any meaningful follow-up.
Ongoing Questions and Concerns
One major issue with the CARE Act is California’s county-by-county rollout. Because local governments are responsible for implementing CARE Courts and arranging services, access and capacity can vary depending on regional resources.
Another concern involves the availability of housing, programs, and providers. A court-supervised plan can only succeed if treatment is actually available and supportive housing options are ready to accept referrals. Protecting civil rights remains a core part of the conversation as well, with ongoing attention to due process, legal representation, and voluntary engagement whenever possible.
AMFM Healthcare: When Building Stability Takes More Than a Law
Laws like the CARE Act can open doors to treatment, but lasting recovery depends on what happens once someone steps through them. People gain stability through consistent care and environments where they feel respected and supported as they heal. That’s why AMFM Healthcare provides services that are personalized to every person we see.
Our comprehensive residential mental health treatment provides care for adults facing a variety of challenges, ranging from depression and anxiety to trauma and schizophrenia, and more. By combining evidence-based care with holistic approaches, we offer you the tools to manage your symptoms and work toward long-term recovery. If you or someone you love is dealing with severe mental illness and repeated crises, you do not have to navigate these decisions alone. Reaching out for guidance can be the first step toward clarity, stability, and a path forward built around compassion and sustained support.
FAQs About California’s CARE Act
Any changes to laws around mental health can create concerns. To help alleviate any you may have, we’ve provided the following answers to FAQs about California’s CARE Act.
How Do CARE Act Changes Affect Treatment Access?
California’s CARE Act changes make it easier for people with severe psychotic disorders or bipolar 1 with psychosis to get coordinated services. By creating a court-supervised care plan, the law reduces the gaps between crisis events and ongoing services. This type of care gives people a clearer pathway into care with stronger follow-up after stabilization.
Did SB 43 Pass in California?
Yes, SB 43 passed and expanded the definition of grave disability under California law. Lawmakers made this change to include someone who is unable to care for themselves or is gravely disabled due to a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorder, not only a mental health condition.7
Who Qualifies for the CARE Act in California?
People who qualify for the CARE Act in California are those who are experiencing severe symptoms related to a psychotic disorder, like schizophrenia or paranoia, or bipolar 1 disorder with psychosis. And those people have histories of repeated crises, homelessness, or incarceration related to untreated symptoms.
What Counts as a Serious Mental Illness?
“Serious mental illness” generally refers to conditions that significantly interfere with a person’s ability to function in daily life. These often include disorders involving psychosis, such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Under CARE Court, the focus is on symptom severity and functional impact rather than diagnosis alone.
Does AMFM Healthcare Accept People Referred Through the Court System?
Yes, we accept people who are referred to us through the court system, when clinically appropriate. Our team will work with you and the referring providers to make sure you get the care that aligns with both your clinical needs and meets court requirements.
What Treatment Options Are Available at AMFM Healthcare?
We are a residential treatment program that provides individual, group, and family therapy. Using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and EMDR, with holistic methods like art, music, and animal-assisted therapy, we support stabilization and help you build coping skills that support recovery.
References
- Department of Health Care Services. (n.d.). Proposition 1 fact sheet: Behavioral health transformation. https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/BHT/Pages/Fact-Sheet-Prop-1.aspx
- Kushel, M., Moore, T., Birkmeyer, J., Dhatt, Z., Duke, M., Knight, K., & Young Ponder, K. (2023). Toward a new understanding: The California statewide study of people experiencing homelessness. UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. https://homelessness.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2023-06/CASPEH_Report_62023.pdf
- De Sousa, T., Henry, M., Abt Global, Snow, W., U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, CSH, Homebase, Melson, R., Shankar-Brown, R., Whitehead, D., Morris, R. A., Dupree, D., & GIS and Data Quality Consultant. (2024). The 2024 annual homelessness assessment report (AHAR) to Congress. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2024-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
- California Hospital Association. (2025). Shortage of behavioral health resources means many Californians can’t get the treatment they need. https://calhospital.org/file/behavioral-health-key-messages-2025/
- California State Legislature. (2022). Senate Bill No. 1338: Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1338
- Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. (2025, October 10). Governor Gavin Newsom signs SB 27, strengthening California’s CARE Act and expanding access to behavioral health services. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/10/governor-gavin-newsom-signs-sb-27-strengthening-californias-care-act-and-expanding-access-to-behavioral-health-services/
- County of Merced. (n.d.). Senate Bill 43: Expanding the definition of grave disability (Effective 1/1/2026). https://www.countyofmerced.com/4245/Senate-Bill-43-Expanding-the-Definition-
