Newsom's CARE Court helping fewer than expected in Bay Area

"When Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE Court launched in 2023, his administration projected the program could help steer up to 12,000 homeless Californians and others with severe mental illnesses into treatment. But as of May, only about 2,000 people had been referred to the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, according to a recent state report. And it's unclear how many of those had actually enrolled in the program and been connected to treatment."

"In the Bay Area, 439 referral petitions had been filed across the region's five largest counties as of last month, according to a survey of local officials by this news organization. As a result of those petitions, only around 100 people were participating in the program. Local officials and mental health advocates attribute CARE Court's slower-than-expected start to strict eligibility requirements, bureaucratic procedures and a lack of awareness about how to refer people to the program."

"Newsom's office, however, in a statement blamed some counties for shirking their responsibilities in adopting CARE Court, singling out Santa Clara County, which had enrolled just two people in the program. Alameda County, for comparison, had 27 CARE Court participants, with 23 more having agreed to enroll. 'It's time for lagging counties to stop making excuses and start delivering the help Californians desperately need,' Newsom's Deputy Communications Director Tara Gallegos said in the statement."

CARE Court launched in 2023 with a projection to help up to 12,000 homeless Californians and others with severe mental illnesses enter treatment, but by May only about 2,000 referrals had been made statewide and the number who enrolled or received treatment remains unclear. The Bay Area filed 439 referral petitions across five large counties, yielding roughly 100 participants. Local officials and advocates attribute the program's slow uptake to strict eligibility rules, complex bureaucratic procedures, and low awareness about referral processes. State officials criticized some counties for failing to implement CARE Court, while some counties say they favor other treatment programs. Families report frustration with program limitations.

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