Welcome to CARE Act Court
If you or someone in your life has a severe, untreated mental health condition, they may be able to participate in a new civil court created by the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act.
What is CARE Act Court?
CARE Act Court will help community members who have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders. As a result of these disorders, many people who would benefit from help may not recognize that they need it. The CARE Act lets certain adults who are close to someone with qualifying untreated disorders to file a request to have that person join this new court program. CARE Act Court will build a relationship with each participant, motivate the participant to develop a treatment plan, and support them on their journey to a happier, healthier life. Each treatment plan will consider the individual’s needs, preferences, and goals.
When the person who needs the support of CARE Act Court accepts a treatment plan, everyone involved in CARE Act Court will collaborate with that person to succeed. As soon as the person who needs the help reaches a point in treatment where the Court’s involvement is no longer necessary or beneficial, the case will be dismissed.
- The Person is 18 years of age or older.
- The Person is currently experiencing a severe mental illness, specifically schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 5600.3 of the Healthy and Safety Code.
- The Person is not clinically stabilized in on-going voluntary treatment.
- At least one of the following is true:
- (1) The person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision and the person’s condition is substantially deteriorating OR
- (2) The person is in need of services and supports in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would be likely to result in grave disability or serious harm to the person or others, as defined in Section 5150 of the Healthy and Safety Code.
- Participation in a CARE plan or CARE agreement would be the least restrictive alternative necessary to ensure the person’s recovery and stability.
- It is likely that the person will benefit from participation in a CARE plan or CARE agreement.
CARE Petition must be filed by an adult who has a close relationship with the Person whom they want to refer to CARE Court.
To be a Petitioner, you Must be 18 years of age or older and be one of the following;
- A person who lives with the respondent.
- A spouse or registered domestic partner, parent, sibling, child, or grandparent of the respondent.
- A person who stands in the place of a parent to the respondent.
- The director of a hospital, or their designee, in which the respondent is hospitalized.
- The director of a public or charitable agency, or their designee, who has within the last 30 days provided or who is currently providing behavioral health services to the respondent or in whose institution the respondent resides.
- A licensed behavioral health professional, or their designee, who is or has been supervising the treatment of or treating the respondent for mental illness within the last 30 days.
- The director of a county behavioral health agency, or their designee, of the county where the respondent resides or is found.
- A first responder who has had repeated interactions with the respondent.
- A judge of a tribal court located in California, or their designee.
- The respondent.
To start a CARE Act Court case, a petition must be filed by someone who is familiar with the person who needs help. That person is called the “petitioner.”
The initial petition and other forms pertaining to CARE Act Court are available on the California Courts' website linked here: CA Courts. The petition must be filed using the mandatory petition form.
The petition also must have certain documents attached to it that support the claims made in the petition.
Form CARE-100 gives you more information regarding what documents should be submitted with the petition.
Form CARE-101 (Mental Health Declaration) filled out by a Mental Health Professional or Evidence that the respondent was detained for at least two periods of intensive treatment, the most recent period within the past 60 days, must be included with your CARE petition for filing. If you do not use the mandatory form, or if you do not attach the supporting documents, the petition may be rejected or dismissed without a hearing.
Completed CARE Act petitions and supporting documentation can be filed at the Courthouse in Fairfield. The window where you should file a paper copy is at the Family Law, Probate, Adoption and Juvenile Division window on the second floor of the Hall of Justice, 600 Union Ave, Fairfield.
You may also drop your completed CARE Act Petitions and supporting documentation in the Family Law, Probate, Adoption and Juvenile Division drop box located near the stairs adjacent to the Family Law office, second floor, Hall of Justice.
Completed CARE Act Petitions and supporting documentation can be filed by mail using the address below:
Solano County Superior Court
Attn: Family Law – CARE
600 Union Ave
Fairfield, CA 94533
The Court has a self-help program that provides information and assistance to self-represented litigants called the Solano Legal Access Center (SLAC). You can make an appointment or drop in to the SLAC office, located on the second floor of the Hall of Justice, 600 Union Ave, in Fairfield. Or, you can email the SLAC staff any questions you have at flf@solano.courts.ca.gov
Reach out to Solano County Behavioral Health for immediate assistance.
Access to Behavioral Health Services:
https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/bh/access_to_services/default.asp
Crisis Services and Involuntary Treatment:
https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/bh/crisisandinvoluntary/default.asp
Suicide Prevention:
https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/bh/sp/default.asp
CARE Act:
https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/bh/careact.asp
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Solano Chapter
https://namisolanocounty.org
707-438-9510