SJC Exchange Library

Originally posted by Brett Taylor on 5/7/2025

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As the need to connect individuals to comprehensive mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services continues to grow, California has launched an innovative framework to help those who need these services the most. The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court is a voluntary program designed to support people with serious mental health challenges, many of whom are unhoused. Working within civil courts, CARE Courts connect individuals to essential behavioral health services and other social supports from the community and justice system partners. These partners collaborate with the client to identify and connect them to targeted services and report their progress to the court.

The Center for Justice Innovation teamed up with the California Health Care Foundation to hear how CARE Courts work in Glenn, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties. CARE Court practitioners from these Cohort One counties shared their experiences, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Their insights are the foundation of this guide, created to help other counties effectively plan and implement CARE Court in their communities. Although CARE Court is currently only in California, this approach may extend to other states/jurisdictions.