Governor Newsom's Ultimatum: Fund or Lose Funding for California's Mental Health Courts!
Governor Gavin Newsom is expressing serious frustration over the slow uptake of his signature CARE Court initiative, a program designed to steer Californians struggling with severe mental illness towards much-needed treatment and off the streets. In a bold move, he's now threatening to withhold crucial funding from 10 California counties that he believes aren't pulling their weight.
Newsom specifically called out Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Yolo, Monterey, and Fresno counties, stating they are underperforming in implementing CARE Court. This program, launched in 2023, aims to leverage the judicial system to connect individuals with severe mental health conditions to treatment. "I’m happy to redirect every damn penny in these programs to the counties that are getting things done, period, full stop," Newsom declared at a press conference, urging an end to excuses.
However, Orange County was quick to push back against the governor's assessment. The OC Health Care Agency stated that they are indeed "utilizing the CARE intervention fully," asserting that the number of petitions received is a significant indicator of their efforts.
But here's where it gets controversial...
CARE Court was intended to be a statewide solution, rolling out in eight counties by the end of 2023 and slated for full statewide adoption by December 2024. The vision was to provide a lifeline for California's most vulnerable – those experiencing psychosis, living on the streets, and unable to care for themselves due to the failure of previous treatment avenues. Yet, a recent investigation revealed that CARE Court has served far fewer Californians than anticipated, leaving many families who had pinned their hopes on the program feeling disappointed. Furthermore, the program has struggled to effectively move individuals from the streets into stable housing.
As of January, the state had received 3,817 petitions for care on behalf of individuals with mental illness. These petitions can originate from concerned family members, first responders, or behavioral health professionals. During the press conference, Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, shared that judges have approved only 893 treatment agreements. In more serious cases where voluntary agreements falter, judges have ordered 32 individuals into CARE plans.
This figure is notably lower than the 7,000 to 12,000 Californians that Newsom's administration initially estimated would qualify for CARE Court. While over 4,000 individuals were diverted to other services, the core program's reach appears to be limited.
On the flip side, Newsom also lauded counties demonstrating strong CARE Court implementation. He highlighted Alameda, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Marin, Napa, Merced, Sutter, San Mateo, and Imperial counties as "CARE champions." He spoke from the site of a new mental health campus in Alameda, which includes 44 beds specifically for CARE Court participants.
To measure success, the administration calculated the number of CARE Court petitions received per capita, categorizing the top 10 counties as "CARE champions" and the bottom 10 as being in the "CARE ICU." This data has been updated on the state's public accountability website.
And this is the part most people miss...
This per capita metric, while a starting point, doesn't account for other crucial aspects of the program's effectiveness. For instance, it doesn't track the number of CARE agreements successfully reached, the rate at which petitions are dismissed without treatment, or the number of individuals who have successfully completed the CARE Court program. Consider San Diego County, which didn't make the "CARE champion" list but had the most graduations statewide as of last summer (10). Similarly, Riverside County, with seven graduations, was placed on the governor's "CARE ICU" list.
Newsom pledged that counties on the "CARE ICU" list would receive additional support from the state's CARE Improvement and Coordination Unit, though the specifics remain vague. The administration is already providing technical assistance and training to some communities.
San Francisco, also on the "CARE ICU" list, has expressed openness to state support in bolstering its CARE Court program. A spokesperson for Mayor Daniel Lurie stated that the administration is actively using "every tool in our toolbox" to address the crisis on the streets, including reimagining outreach and increasing recovery resources.
Orange County, in its defense, reported 231 CARE Court petitions and 79 participants currently receiving treatment, housing, and medication. The OC Health Care Agency emphasized that the focus should be on the quality of services provided and their impact on individuals' lives, not solely on the petition numbers.
While Newsom didn't explicitly state which funding streams are at risk, he hinted that new funds would be directed towards programs supporting CARE Court participants. This includes $131.8 million from Proposition 1 for 443 homes and an additional $159 million in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention funds.
During the event, Alameda County Judge Sandra Bean shared a success story of a woman with multiple complex challenges who is now living independently and managing her treatment. "We’ve had a number of people who have done really, really well," she affirmed.
What are your thoughts on Governor Newsom's approach? Is threatening funding the right way to push counties to adopt new programs, or should there be more emphasis on support and collaboration? Share your opinions in the comments below!
