For some of us, the CARE Act isn’t even on our radar. But for many people, understanding CARE court eligibility in California is both important and lifesaving. While California’s CARE Act reforms expand services and better connect people to treatment, there was some concern around whether the courts would order involuntary treatment. This sparked apprehension about autonomy and personal rights.
The reality of the CARE Act is more nuanced than subjecting people to forced hospitalizations. Because of disinformation and misconceptions, this article explains what California’s CARE Court law is and addresses the fact vs. fiction of CARE Court California eligibility.
California CARE Court Law Explained
To help you better understand how CARE Court eligibility changed in California, we have to first explain what the CARE Act is and what it does.
The CARE Act, which stands for Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment, is a court process that helps people who are living with untreated, severe mental health conditions, like schizophrenia. The program works to connect these people with treatment in a timely manner so they don’t end up cycling through involuntary hospitalization or incarceration.1
Essentially, CARE Court allows eligible people to receive a court-approved treatment plan that may include therapy, medication, case management, and connection to community services. The goal is to create structured support before repeated crises, hospitalizations, or instability occur.
However, it is important to note that California’s mental health court eligibility is limited. Not everyone with a mental health diagnosis will qualify. Instead, the law focuses on those whose symptoms cause significant impairment in their daily functioning.
What Is the CARE Court Process?
The first step in participating in CARE Court is through a petition. A family member, first responder, medical professional, therapist, or the person themselves can submit a petition to the CARE Court for services.
Then, if the judge feels the person is or may be eligible for CARE, they send a county health team to meet with the person to understand their situation. Once the county health team reports back to the judge and the judge agrees the person meets the criteria, everyone comes together to create a CARE plan.2
Finally, once the plan is agreed upon and approved by the judge, the county health team ensures the person gets the services they need.
How CARE Court Eligibility Changed in California
In 2022, California lawmakers first rolled out the CARE Act. But recently, the state has expanded the CARE Court in California in 2025. In its original iteration, eligibility centered on adults diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. The program was intended for those who are severely impaired, are unable to care for themselves, and are at risk for repeated hospitalizations, homelessness, or incarceration.3
Aside from a diagnosis of a qualifying psychotic disorder and evidence showing these symptoms cause substantial impairment, eligibility criteria also included:
- A determination that the person is unlikely to be safe in the community without structured treatment.
- Documentation that voluntary engagement in treatment has not been successful or sustained.
The recent CARE Act court eligibility changes in CA, with the introduction of Senate Bill 27 (SB 27), expanded who is eligible for CARE Court. Under California’s CARE Court SB 27 updates, it is not only people with schizophrenia or other limited psychotic disorders that qualify. The program has expanded it to also include people who experience psychosis as a result of bipolar 1 disorder.4
The law also attempts to make it easier for people to enter the CARE program by combining two court hearings into one. This is an effort to reduce the amount of time that participants in this program spend in court.
Basically, the expanded CARE Act court rules for severe mental illness in California hopes to reach more people who are in need of services. Simultaneously, it also aims to decrease the amount of unnecessary time spent in the legal system.
Fact vs. Fiction: Common Misconceptions About CARE Court Expansion
When discussions about the expanded CARE Court California in 2025 updates began circulating, so did a number of assumptions. Some of these are understandable. Legal systems can feel intimidating, especially when mental health is involved.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common misunderstandings people tend to have about the CARE Act.
Fiction: “CARE Court Is Just Forced Treatment.”
This is one of the most frequent concerns. While CARE Court does involve oversight by the courts, it does not force treatment.5 There are legal requirements that someone must meet before a judge approves a petition. The other reason this is a misconception is that the person must decide to engage in treatment; treatment providers cannot force anyone to do anything. They are involved in developing their treatment plan and have input and say in the types of services they receive.
Fiction: “Expansion Means More Involuntary Hospitalizations.”
Another misconception is that CARE Court means more involuntary hospitalizations. CARE Court is not the same as conservatorship or a psychiatric hold.
Conservatorship is when a judge appoints another person to act or make decisions for someone who is impaired and unable to make decisions for themselves.6 Psychiatric holds, often referred to as “5150 holds,” are an intervention used for people experiencing acute mental health crises. The purpose of a psychiatric hold is to prevent immediate harm and help with stabilization.7
Mental health court reforms in California do not increase involuntary hospitalization, as the services are voluntary. Instead, they’re actually focused on reducing the number of hospitalizations.
Fact: The CARE Act Aims to Increase Structured Support Before Crisis Escalates.
Essentially, this program works to improve CARE Court access to treatment in California for those who might otherwise struggle to get help. The goal of the law is to intervene earlier for people who are repeatedly cycling through emergency rooms, short-term hospital stays, or unstable housing without sustained care. The CARE Act also works to connect people with a team so they feel supported in their care.
Why the CARE Act Expansion Is Controversial
The biggest reason why the CARE Act is controversial is the concern that it violates people’s rights. Advocacy groups, like the Human Rights Watch, have raised concerns about civil liberties and personal autonomy, as well as not guaranteeing permanent housing.8
Plus, some worry that court oversight, even in a civil setting, may erode a person’s right to refuse treatment. And others question whether systemic inequities could influence who becomes subject to petitions.
These concerns deserve thoughtful consideration. Any system involving legal authority and mental health must balance safety, dignity, and individual rights.
However, the CARE Act may facilitate early intervention, which could prove beneficial for many.
Arguments in Favor of Earlier Intervention
At the same time as ongoing controversy, supporters argue that the current system often waits until a crisis. They see the CARE Court treatment and housing access in California as a structured way to connect people to care before repeated hospitalizations, incarceration, or prolonged instability occur.9
For families who have exhausted voluntary options, CARE Court may represent a pathway toward consistent engagement rather than short-term stabilization alone.
How to Know When to Seek Help Before a Crisis
The reasons the conversations around California’s CARE Act are so important are that they revolve around getting treatment before a crisis occurs. Early support can save lives. Research shows that early mental health intervention improves long-term outcomes, reduces the risk of complications, and enhances overall well-being.10
You might consider seeking support if you’re experiencing:
- An increase in social withdrawal and isolation.
- Paranoia or disorganized thinking.
- A difficult time managing your hygiene, eating properly, or finding a safe shelter.
- Difficulty maintaining work, school, or daily responsibilities.
- A detachment from reality.
- Frequent emergency room visits without long-term follow-up care.
These symptoms or changes don’t automatically mean you qualify for CARE Court in California; only that you may need early intervention to prevent symptoms from escalating into a crisis.
Mission Connection offers flexible outpatient care for adults needing more than weekly therapy. Our in-person and telehealth programs include individual, group, and experiential therapy, along with psychiatric care and medication management.
We treat anxiety, depression, trauma, and bipolar disorder using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and trauma-focused therapies. Designed to fit into daily life, our services provide consistent support without requiring residential care.
Finding Support Outside the Courtroom With Mission Connection
While CARE Court access to treatment in California is one pathway within the state’s evolving system, court involvement is not the only option. In many cases, early, voluntary treatment can provide the structure and stability you need without legal oversight.
Mission Connection is here to provide that. We’re an outpatient mental health provider that offers personalized, evidence-based care to meet you where you are. We treat a variety of mental health concerns, including schizophrenia, psychosis, and bipolar disorder. With therapies from CBT and EMDR to mindfulness and art therapy, we’ll work with you on managing your symptoms and building coping tools to support you outside of our program. Our treatment plans are also collaborative and focused on restoring your daily functioning while preserving dignity and autonomy.
If you’re dealing with mental health concerns and want to find out what type of support is available for you, or you’re trying to satisfy a CARE plan, our team can help you with the next steps. Reaching out early can reduce uncertainty and open the door to meaningful support outside the courtroom.
FAQs About California’s CARE Court
CARE Court eligibility in California has sparked many conversations and concerns. If you still have some pressing questions after the information in this blog, you might find the following answers to FAQs on CARE Court helpful.
Who Qualifies for CARE Court in California?
Under the current CARE Court standards, those who qualify are adults 18 years or older who have an untreated severe mental health condition. This might include schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar 1 with psychotic symptoms. The person must also show impairment in functioning and difficulty taking care of their everyday needs, like eating, hygiene, and safe shelter.
What Does Expanded CARE Court Eligibility Mean?
Expanded CARE Court eligibility means that the state has updated the law to expand access to treatment. Basically, the state has updated the law to include people with bipolar 1 disorder with psychotic symptoms on top of the other, previously included, psychotic disorders.
How Does CARE Court Work for Severe Mental Illness in California?
In California, CARE Court works for severe mental illness by allowing the person, family members, first responders, or healthcare professionals to file a petition for services. If the court determines that the person meets eligibility standards, with their lawyer and care team, the person develops a court-approved plan. This plan may include therapy, medication, case management, and coordination of supportive services. The focus is to help people with severe mental health conditions connect to treatment and services so they do not end up hospitalized, under conservatorship, or in jail.
Do I Need to Have a Diagnosis to Qualify?
Yes, to qualify for CARE Court, you need to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, or bipolar 1 disorder with psychotic symptoms. The court relies on documented clinical evidence when determining eligibility. Without a qualifying diagnosis and functional impairment, a petition cannot move forward.
Does Mission Connection Take Referrals From Court?
Yes, we work with court-appointed referrals. If the court system or a lawyer refers you for treatment, we’ll help you get the care you need. We’ll work with you, your lawyer, and the courts to develop a treatment plan that satisfies the requirements and also provides you with support while building coping tools for lasting recovery.
References
- National Alliance on Mental Illness California. (2025, November 7). CARE Court. https://namica.org/care/
- California Health & Human Services. (2026, January 29). Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act. https://www.chhs.ca.gov/care-act/#how-the-care-process-works
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego. (2025, July 2). CARE Act Program. https://www.lassd.org/care-act-program/
- Kendall, M. (2025, December 27). New California law expands Newsom’s mental health court. CalMatters. https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/12/care-court-sb-27-new-law/
- Halverstadt, L. (2025, February 27). San Diego’s CARE court isn’t forcing treatment. Voice of San Diego. https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/02/27/san-diegos-care-court-isnt-forcing-treatment/
- California Courts. (n.d.). Conservatorships | Self Help guide. https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/conservatorships
- Brown, A., Ettingoff, C., Davis, J., & Henderson, H. (2025). Involuntary Psychiatric holds in acute care Settings: Implications for Emergency Department capacity and care — A narrative review. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 77, 169–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2025.05.022
- Human Rights Watch. (2022, August 4). Advocates oppose California CARE court legislation. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/04/advocates-oppose-california-care-court-legislation
- Columbia Social Work Review. (2024, May 2). Why California’s CARE courts are needed. and what the “Civil Liberties” argument misses. https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/cswr/announcement/view/710
- Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. (2024, July 18). The Power of Early Intervention in Mental Health: A Pathway to Wellness and Recovery. https://ppimhs.org/newspost/the-power-of-early-intervention-in-mental-health-a-pathway-to-wellness-and-recovery/
