Community Assistance Recovery Empowerment (CARE)

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CARE is a new civil process established to allow counties to focus on serving persons with untreated mental illness and provide behavioral health services.

CARE Act connects a person struggling with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders with a court-ordered Care Plan for up to 12 months.

Services provided may include: (1) behavioral health services (counseling, case management), 2) Medication management, 3) Housing resources, 4) Social Services and supports, 5) protection and self-determination of civil liberties by providing legal counsel and promoting supported decision making, and 5) Supporter to navigate Care process.

WHO DOES THIS PROGRAM SERVE?

• Adults, 18 years or older.
• Diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum or other related psychotic disorders.
• Experiencing behaviors and symptoms associated with severe mental illness.
• Not clinically stabilized in on-going voluntary treatment.
• At least one of the following:
  • Unlikely to survive safely without supervision and condition is substantially deteriorating.
  • Needs Services & supports to prevent relapse or deterioration, leading to grave disability or harm to others.
• Participation in CARE Plan or Agreement is the least restrictive alternative.
• Likely to benefit from participating in a CARE Plan or Agreement.

WHO CAN PETITION?

1. Family/Home

• Persons with whom respondent resides.
• Spouse, parent, sibling, adult child, grandparents, or another individual in place of a parent.
• Respondent (i.e., self-petition).

2. County

• County behavioral health director, or designee.
• Public Guardian or designee.
• Director of adult protective services or designee.

3. Tribal Jurisdiction

• Director of a California Indian health services program, California tribal behavioral health department, or designee.
• Judge of a tribal court located in CA, or designee.

4. Community

• First responder (e.g., firefighter, paramedic, mobile crisis response, homeless outreach worker) with firsthand experience with the individual.
• Director of a Hospital, or designee, in which the respondent is hospitalized.
• Licensed behavioral health professional, or designee treating respondent for mental illness.
• Director of a public /charitable organization providing behavioral health services or whose institution respondent resides.

HOW TO FILE A PETITION

1. Complete petition (CARE100) and remember to fill out ALL requested information.
2. Gather all  the required documentation.
3. Include evidence that the respondent was detained for a minimum of TWO periods of intensive treatment (WIC, 5250 Holds), and most recent episode being within the last 60 days.
4. Visit an OC Court self-help location to file the petition. Or E-File the petition at File At Home | Superior Court of California | County of Orange (occourts.org).

RESOURCES:

California Department of Human Services: For more information about the CARE Act, please visit https://www.chhs.ca.gov/care-act/.

California Courts: For more information about Adult Civil Mental Health, please visit https://www.courts.ca.gov/48654.htm.

Superior Court of CA – County of Orange: For information on help available through Self-Help Services in Orange County, visit self_help_services_care_court.pdf (occourts.org). Or to find the nearest Orange County Court self-help location, visit https://www.occourts.org/self-help/self-help-services/self-help-centers.

Court Forms can be accessed at: www.courts.ca.gov/allforms.htm.

To find other mental health and wellness resources in Orange County, visit www.ocnavigator.org or connect with a Navigator by calling (855) OC-LINKS.