Community Assistance, Recovery & Empowerment (CARE) Act
Signed into law in 2022, the CARE Act is a state-level initiative administered by the California Health & Human Services Agency. It is intended to deliver critical mental health and substance use disorder treatment, as well as housing and support services, to the most vulnerable Californians, including those experiencing homelessness.
The CARE Act requires every county in California to open specialized courts that offer voluntary treatment and services. A CARE Court arrived in Los Angeles County in December 2023, allowing the LA County Department of Mental Health, first responders, family members, roommates, or spouses to petition the court to start the process of enrolling someone into the state-funded program.
