LA County Supervisors Approve Changes to Mental Health Court Program

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to improve the county’s CARE Court program for people with untreated mental health disorders.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Board Chair Kathryn Barger, directs the Department of Mental Health to streamline the referral process for first responders.

CARE Court, the county’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment program, launched on Dec. 1, 2023. The state-funded program allows qualified individuals to petition the court for treatment of people with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.

Family members, spouses, roommates, emergency responders and licensed medical or mental health professionals can file petitions. The program aims to stabilize symptoms and support recovery.

“CARE Court is a critical tool that has offered hope to families who love someone with severe untreated mental illness,” Hahn said. “But we saw the need for improvements, so we studied them and now we’re finally moving forward with them.”

The motion calls for expedited mechanisms for first responders to make seamless referrals. It also seeks to increase community awareness and understanding of the program.

Los Angeles County started its CARE program one year ahead of the state mandate for all 58 counties. The program represents a collaborative effort between the Department of Mental Health, Independent Defense Counsel Office and Los Angeles Superior Court.

“The need for a program like CARE Court is immense and we must ensure it’s meeting that need as effectively as possible,” said Barger.

In February, the board approved a motion by Hahn directing the Department of Mental Health to analyze the program’s first year. The analysis found progress in establishing CARE agreements and plans but identified challenges that needed addressing.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Greater Los Angeles County, stated its support for the original 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,” Executive Director Traute Winters said.

The organization identified needed improvements including revamping protocols to be more inclusive for families and petitioners, addressing housing challenges and enhancing first responder training.

The motion directs closer collaboration between agencies to streamline processing of CARE Court cases.