California's CARE Act has reached more than 10,000 people with serious mental illness through June 2026, according to new program data released by Governor Gavin Newsom. The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act connects individuals with untreated or undertreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to voluntary support including behavioral health and housing.
The program, which first launched in eight counties in 2023, expanded to all 58 California counties by December 2024. Through June 2026, more than 5,400 CARE petitions were filed across 54 counties, resulting in 1,414 voluntary agreements and 56 court-ordered plans. Nearly 4,900 people who initially engaged through CARE were referred to services outside the formal CARE Act process.
Individuals, family members, first responders, behavioral health professionals, or eligible county staff can petition for someone to be placed in CARE Court, where a judge presides over the case. "Success means this is the longest someone's ever been sober," said Katia Benthale, Deputy Public Defender for Ventura County. "I've had clients say, 'This is the longest I haven't been arrested,' and that gives me goosebumps."
Some counties accelerated their programs after receiving targeted support earlier this year. Fresno County doubled its petitions since the prior year, while Kern County tripled its number.
The state also released a new Behavioral Health Public County Profile dashboard providing public access to county-reported behavioral health data, including CARE Act progress. This aligns with California's July 1, 2026 transition from the Mental Health Services Act to the new Behavioral Health Services Act, approved by voters through Proposition 1 in 2024.