Governor Newsom's Ultimatum: Counties Face Funding Cuts Over Slow Mental Health Court Adoption! Are we seeing a genuine push for progress, or a political power play? Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a stern warning to California counties, threatening to withhold crucial funding if they don't accelerate the implementation of his signature mental health initiative, CARE Court. This bold move comes as frustration mounts over the sluggish rollout of a program designed to help individuals struggling with severe mental illness, particularly those experiencing homelessness.
Newsom has specifically pointed fingers at 10 underperforming counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Yolo, Monterey, and Fresno. He declared during a press conference, "I’m happy to redirect every damn penny in these programs to the counties that are getting things done, period, full stop." He urged these counties to "stop making any more excuses."
But here's where it gets controversial... Orange County was quick to push back, with the OC Health Care Agency stating, "Orange County is utilizing the CARE intervention fully." This immediate dispute highlights the differing perspectives on what constitutes adequate progress and the challenges in measuring success.
CARE Court, launched in 2023, aims to leverage the judicial system to guide individuals with severe mental health conditions into necessary treatment. The program was intended to reach a critical population – those battling psychosis, living on the streets, and unable to care for themselves due to the failure of previous treatment avenues. The statewide rollout was completed by December 2024.
And this is the part most people miss... Despite the ambitious goals, a recent investigation revealed that CARE Court has served significantly fewer Californians than anticipated. Many families who had placed their hopes on this program for loved ones with severe mental illness have expressed disappointment. Furthermore, the program has struggled to effectively transition individuals from the streets into stable housing.
As of January, the state had received 3,817 petitions for care on behalf of individuals with mental illness. These petitions can originate from concerned family members, first responders, or behavioral health professionals. However, only 893 treatment agreements have been approved by judges, according to Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. In more serious cases, where voluntary agreements falter, judges have ordered 32 individuals into CARE plans.
This outcome falls short of the administration's initial projections, which estimated that between 7,000 and 12,000 Californians would qualify for CARE Court. It's worth noting that over 4,000 individuals were successfully diverted to other services, bypassing the CARE program entirely.
On the flip side, Newsom lauded counties that are excelling in their CARE Court efforts. He specifically named Alameda, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Marin, Napa, Merced, Sutter, San Mateo, and Imperial as "CARE champions." He even held his press conference at the under-construction Regis Village in Alameda, a mental health campus that includes 44 beds designated for CARE Court participants.
Newsom's administration devised a metric to gauge county performance: the number of CARE Court petitions received per capita. The top 10 counties were dubbed "CARE champions," while the bottom 10 were placed in the "CARE ICU." This data has been updated on the state's public accountability website.
However, is this metric truly telling the whole story? Critics point out that this per capita measure doesn't account for crucial factors like the number of successful CARE agreements, the rate of petition dismissals without treatment, or the number of individuals who have successfully completed the program. For instance, San Diego County, which boasted the highest number of graduations (10) as of last summer, was not on the "CARE champion" list. Similarly, Riverside, with seven graduations, landed on Newsom's "CARE ICU" list.
Newsom has pledged to provide "extra help" to counties in the "CARE ICU" through the state’s CARE Improvement and Coordination Unit, though the specifics remain vague. Technical support and training are already being offered to some communities.
San Francisco, a county on the "CARE ICU" list, has welcomed the prospect of state support. A spokesperson for Mayor Daniel Lurie stated, "Since day one, our administration has been using every tool in our toolbox to address the crisis on our streets..."
Orange County, meanwhile, reported 231 CARE Court petitions and 79 participants currently receiving treatment, housing, and medication. The county agency emphasized that the focus should be on the quality of services provided, not just the number of petitions.
While Newsom didn't specify which funding streams are at risk, he hinted that new funds would be redirected to programs supporting CARE Court participants. This includes $131.8 million from Proposition 1 for 443 homes and an additional $159 million in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention funds.
To illustrate the program's potential, Alameda County Judge Sandra Bean shared a success story of a woman with multiple complex challenges who is now living independently and managing her health. "We’ve had a number of people who have done really, really well," she affirmed.
What do you think? Is Governor Newsom's strong stance necessary to drive progress, or does it risk alienating counties that are genuinely trying? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
