Mendocino County is set to roll out a new program on Dec. 1 aimed at addressing severe mental health challenges, including psychosis and homelessness. The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court initiative will provide personalized support to individuals facing significant barriers to treatment and housing, the County of Mendocino announced in a press release.
CARE Court is a voluntary civil court process designed to encourage treatment engagement through structured court monitoring and collaboration between Behavioral Health teams, the Superior Court, and community-based support services. Participants will work with mental health professionals and peer support specialists to create tailored care plans that address their unique needs, officials said.
The program, established statewide in California, reflects a shift toward more compassionate and effective responses to mental health crises. By involving families, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social workers in the referral process, CARE Court aims to connect individuals to comprehensive services and improve their long-term outcomes.
“CARE Court emphasizes inclusivity and collaboration, giving participants the right to request an advocate to help them navigate the program and represent their preferences,” the County stated.
Referrals can be initiated through petitions filed at the Mendocino County courthouse or Self-Help Centers. Eligible participants will then work with a multidisciplinary team to develop a personalized plan that may include mental health treatment, housing assistance, and other services.
The program is the result of over a year of planning by the County’s Behavioral Health teams and the Superior Court, including its Self-Help Center. Officials believe the initiative represents a critical step forward in supporting some of the community’s most vulnerable members.
For more information about CARE Court and how to submit a referral, visit the County of Mendocino’s website.
Oh boy, Government tackling homelessness is like sharks patrolling bite victims. It is government programs and interference in our daily lives, the incarceration of people whose crimes involve no victim, the continual taxing and fining at every turn, not to mention a CHPO penchant for becoming 4 wheel tax collectors. If government were reduced to pre 1990 levels most of these problems would disappear.