An innovative mental health court program, known as “CARE Court,” has been launched in seven California counties, including San Francisco. This new civil court process, created by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, aims to expedite the process of providing housing and medical care to individuals with untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, without necessarily obtaining their consent. The decision to implement this program was made in response to the homelessness crisis in the state, despite concerns about limited housing and services. It is seen as an attempt to address the struggles faced by those experiencing apparent psychotic breaks in public.
Families of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness are pleased with the new law, as it grants them the ability to request court-ordered treatment for their loved ones. Concerned residents who witness the high numbers of homeless individuals, estimated to be 171,000 in California, are also hopeful that this program will provide assistance and help them get off the streets. However, critics argue that this initiative can be seen as coercive and ineffective, as it may force people into treatment. As the program receives petitions, it remains uncertain who will benefit from it and how effective it will be. The program’s eligibility criteria are limited, primarily targeting individuals with untreated schizophrenia and related disorders, while excluding severe depression, bipolar disorder, and addiction as qualifying conditions.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Michael Begert, who will oversee the court, stated, “It’s hopefully going to help some people who need some help, and it is probably not going to make a huge dent in what you observe in the community.” Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency, explained that the program aims to intervene early and provide assistance before individuals’ conditions worsen. On Monday, the program was initiated in San Francisco, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Glenn counties. Los Angeles County will begin its program on December 1. The state estimates that approximately 1,800 to 3,100 individuals may qualify in the first seven counties, with Los Angeles County potentially increasing the estimate to 3,600 to 6,200, although the uptake of the program may take time.
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