California CARE Act reaches 10,000 people with mental illness

California Governor Gavin Newsom has released the 2026 CARE Act Annual Report, indicating that the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act is reaching over 10,000 residents. The program is designed to connect individuals with untreated or undertreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to voluntary support, including behavioral health services and housing, under court supervision.

To increase transparency, the Governor launched a new statewide behavioral health data dashboard. This tool, the Behavioral Health Public County Profile, allows residents to track county-reported data regarding funding, service delivery, and progress toward state goals.

In Los Angeles County, the Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) has reported significant progress since the program's implementation in December 2023. As of July 2026, the county has filed 1,172 CARE Act petitions. LACDMH has also trained 133 community partners, including first responders, hospital systems, and community-based clinics, to assist in the referral process.