CARE Court Gaining Momentum in Los Angeles County as Referrals Increase

State officials report growing use of California's behavioral health court program, though questions remain about long-term outcomes

After a slower-than-expected launch, Los Angeles County is seeing increased use of California's Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court, a program designed to connect people living with untreated serious mental illness to community-based treatment and support services. According to county officials, petitions filed in Los Angeles County jumped by about 85% between November 2025 and March 2026, with March alone seeing 68 petitions — a sign of growing awareness and adoption among families, clinicians, first responders, and community partners. Martin Jones, a program manager with the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, has attributed the increase to expanded outreach with hospitals, first responders, and other groups to help identify and refer people who might benefit from the program.

The update, originally reported by CalMatters, comes just months after statewide scrutiny over the program's slower-than-anticipated rollout. In March 2026, Gov. Gavin Newsom named Los Angeles among 10 counties he characterized as "underperforming" on CARE Court implementation, based on a state benchmark of roughly 6.2 petitions per 100,000 residents, and threatened to redirect funding away from counties that failed to improve.

What is CARE Court?

CARE Court was established to help adults living with untreated schizophrenia spectrum disorders or certain psychotic disorders who are experiencing significant functional decline and are unlikely to engage in treatment voluntarily.

Eligible petitioners include:

• Family members

• Physicians and behavioral health providers

• First responders

• Public guardians and certain county agencies

Following evaluation, participants may enter a voluntary CARE Agreement or, in some circumstances, receive a court-approved CARE Plan that coordinates behavioral health treatment, medications, supportive services, and housing resources.

What physicians should know

For physicians, particularly those practicing psychiatry, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, and hospital medicine, CARE Court represents another pathway for patients with severe untreated mental illness who repeatedly cycle through emergency departments, inpatient units, or crisis encounters without sustained engagement in care.

Although physicians may petition the court when statutory criteria are met, CARE Court is intended to complement, not replace, existing behavioral health services and conservatorship laws. Clinical documentation and diagnostic clarity remain critical components of determining eligibility.

Progress, but continued debate

While petition volume has increased substantially in Los Angeles County, questions remain about whether CARE Court is reaching enough eligible individuals and producing the outcomes originally envisioned.

The scale of the shortfall is significant. Between the program's December 2023 launch in L.A. County and June 30, 2026, only 1,111 petitions were filed countywide — far short of the roughly 3,800 petitions per year that state officials had originally projected for the county. In other words, cumulative petitions over two and a half years still fall well below a single year's original projection.

Outcomes data adds further nuance. As of June 2026, only 21 people had completed the program's 12-month CARE court track, with four more participants scheduled to graduate within the following year. Notably, county officials reported that 63% of current participants have chosen to continue receiving services and support through CARE rather than formally graduating — suggesting many participants value the ongoing structure of the program, though it also means relatively few cases are reaching a defined endpoint.

Many cases continue to resolve through voluntary agreements or referrals into other county behavioral health services rather than court-ordered treatment plans.

State officials note that increasing petition numbers may also reflect improved education, stronger collaboration between counties and healthcare providers, and expanded awareness of referral pathways. More individuals are also being connected to behavioral health services outside of CARE Court when the program is not the appropriate intervention.

Legislators are also considering additional changes intended to strengthen CARE Court, including expanding referral authority and addressing situations involving individuals with the most severe psychiatric impairment.

Why it matters

Los Angeles County continues to face significant challenges related to untreated serious mental illness, homelessness, and behavioral health workforce capacity. As CARE Court evolves, physicians remain central to identifying appropriate candidates, coordinating treatment, and helping patients navigate an increasingly integrated behavioral health system.

For clinicians working with patients experiencing severe psychotic illness, familiarity with CARE Court eligibility, referral pathways, and the program's evolving outcomes data may become an increasingly important component of community-based psychiatric care.

This article is adapted from reporting by CalMatters and supplemented with publicly available information from the California Health & Human Services Agency and the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.