Governor Gavin Newsom announced advancements in the implementation of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, highlighting that it has served over 10,000 Californians experiencing serious mental illness. The Governor's announcement came with the release of the 2026 CARE Act Annual Report and a new statewide behavioral health data dashboard aimed at consolidating county-reported behavioral health data for better community tracking.
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The CARE Act aims to modernize California’s behavioral health system and address homelessness by connecting individuals with untreated psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, to vital support services. This process involves judges overseeing cases to ensure accountability. Since its inception in 2023 and full implementation by December 2024, counties have filed over 5,400 CARE petitions across 54 counties, resulting in 1,414 voluntary CARE agreements and 56 court-ordered CARE plans. Additionally, nearly 4,900 individuals initially engaged with CARE have been referred to outside services.
Counties that received targeted support through the “CARE ICU” list have seen significant improvements, with Fresno County doubling and Kern County tripling their number of filed petitions compared to the previous year. The 2026 CARE Act Annual Report provides detailed insights into these implementations and participant outcomes up to June 2025.
In conjunction with these developments, the Behavioral Health Public County Profile was launched, offering a comprehensive view of county-reported behavioral health data that was previously fragmented. This tool aims to enhance transparency and accountability, allowing Californians to assess how local behavioral health resources are allocated and how their counties perform in comparison to statewide goals.
This new dashboard follows California's recent transition to the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), which focuses on equitable outcomes and accountability in funding. Counties are now required to develop BHSA Integrated Plans to specify how they will meet mental health and substance use service needs.
Brandon Fernandez, CEO of CRI-HELP, commended the Governor’s efforts, stating that the integration of substance use and mental health services will lead to improved pathways into treatment and better clinical outcomes across various care levels. The full 2026 CARE Act Annual Report and the Behavioral Health Public County Profile dashboard are currently accessible for public review.