CARE Act

CARE Act

Helping a person with a severe mental illness

 This guide has information about

  • The CARE Act 
  • Other options to help someone with a severe mental illness
  • Help at Self-Help Centers with CARE Act forms
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CARE Act

The CARE Act allows certain adult people to ask (petition) a court to create a voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan for someone with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. A CARE agreement or plan may include treatment, housing resources, and other services.

All courts accept CARE petitions

Alameda Marin San Mateo
Alpine Mariposa Santa Barbara
Amador Mendocino Santa Clara
Butte Merced Santa Cruz
Calaveras Modoc Shasta
Colusa Mono Sierra
Contra Costa Monterey Siskiyou
Del Norte Napa Solano
El Dorado Nevada Sonoma
Fresno Orange Stanislaus
Glenn Placer Sutter
Humboldt Plumas Tehama
Imperial Riverside Trinity
Inyo Sacramento Tulare
Kern San Benito Tuolumne
Kings San Bernardino Ventura
Lake San Diego Yolo
Lassen San Francisco Yuba
Los Angeles San Joaquin
Madera San Luis Obispo

You must explore all other options before starting the CARE process

Although this guide is about the CARE Act, you should only use the CARE Act process if there are no other options that would limit the person less than the CARE Act and still meet their needs. Explore other options here.

What if I don't speak English? 

You can use Request for Interpreter—Civil (form INT-300) or a local court form or website to request an interpreter. For more information about court interpreters, click here.

What if I have a disability?

If you have a disability and need an accommodation while you are at court, you can use Disability Accommodation Request (form MC-410) to make your request. You can also ask the ADA Coordinator in your court for help. For more information, see How to Request a Disability Accommodation for Court (form MC-410-INFO).