The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act authorizes specified adult persons to petition a civil court to create a voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan that can include treatment, housing support, and other services for persons with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. The CARE Act creates a new pathway intended to deliver mental health treatment and support services upstream to the most severely impaired Californians who often experience homelessness or incarceration without treatment. This pathway is accessed when a person, called the “petitioner”, requests court-ordered treatment, services, support, and housing resources under the CARE Act prioritized for another person, called the “respondent”. The petitioner must fall under a specific group of people, such as specific family members, housemates, first responders, and behavioral health workers. The respondent must have a diagnosis on the schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders.
The CARE Act 101 webinar provides an overview of the court's role in implementation and highlights key topics and spotlights areas of greater interest for local courts and justice partners including eligibility criteria, referrals, and the court process. The presentation is approximately 30 minutes.
The CARE Act is for people with schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders and provides a less restrictive alternative to state hospitalization or an involuntary conservatorship.
To be eligible, a person must meet the following criteria:
The CARE Act creates a voluntary agreement that the respondent participate Behavioral Health Services. The agreement can include court ordered treatment, support, and a housing plan.
| Form | Description | Links | Resources |
| Information for Petitioners - About the CARE Act (CARE-050-INFO) | Explains the CARE Act process, petitioner and respondent eligibility, what documents are needed, and gives instruction on how to properly fill out the petition, form CARE-100. | CARE-050-INFO (external site pdf ) |
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| Petition to Commence CARE Act Proceedings (CARE-100) | Use this form to ask a court to start CARE Act proceedings on behalf of someone else. | CARE-100 (external site pdf ) |
How to Complete the CARE-100 Form (external site pdf ) |
| Mental Health Declaration—CARE Act Proceedings (CARE-101) | A licensed behavioral health professional uses this form to tell the court that they have examined the respondent within 60 days of filing of the petition, or have made multiple attempts to examine, but have not been successful in conducting an examination within 60 days of the petition. A licensed behavioral health professional also uses this form to tell the court that they have determined that the respondent meets, or have reason to believe that the respondent meets, the legal requirements for CARE Act proceedings. | CARE-101 (external site pdf ) |
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| Attachment to Judicial Council Form (MC-025) | Gives you more space to complete any Judicial Council form. This is always attached to another form or court paper before it can be filed in court. | MC-025 (external site pdf ) |
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| Request for Interpreter (RI-IN007) | If you need an interpreter, please complete the Interpreter Request Form and file with the court. | RI-IN007 (pdf ) |
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| Information for Respondents—About the CARE Act (CARE-060-INFO) | Provides information for the respondent about the CARE Act. Explains what CARE Act proceedings are, summarizes petitioner’s and respondent’s rights, and describes the role of a supporter. | CARE-060-INFO (external site pdf ) |
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| Disability Accommodation Request (MC-410) | Ask the court for an accommodation for a disability while you are in court. Is also used to state the court’s decision (order) on your request for an accommodation. | MC-410 (external site pdf ) |
Petitions to Commence Care Act Proceedings may be filed at any courthouse located in Riverside County or by using eSubmit. There are no filing fees associated with the filing of the petition.
❖All hearings for CARE Act will be held in Department 12 at the Riverside Historic Courthouse, 4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA with remote appearance availability.
Probate
Probate Court handles decedent's estates, trust proceedings, guardianship proceedings, conservatorship proceedings, minor's compromises, and mental health filings.
Probate
Self-Help Legal Services
The Self-Help Division provides general assistance to people who do not have attorneys.
Self-Help Legal Services