Stanislaus hiring for CARE Court mental health program for homeless. When will it start?
Stanislaus County leaders gave approval Tuesday to recruit and hire 14 additional staff members so the CARE Court program can be launched in October.
Stanislaus is in the group of seven counties first to implement a mental health court program under the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Act, designed to deliver mental health services to severely impaired people on the streets.
Stanislaus signed on with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s initiative to address growing concerns about people with untreated mental illness who are homeless or end up in jail.
In January, civil rights organizations charged in a lawsuit that Newsom’s civil mental health court program is unconstitutional because it strips people with mental illness of their right to make decisions about their lives.
The CARE Act requires counties to provide services for people with severe untreated mental disorder through voluntary or court-ordered treatment plans.
County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will add 15 staff members for a team to implement the CARE Act program. The positions include an already-hired manager, as well as three mental health clinicians, five behavioral health specialists, a mental health coordinator, a psychiatric nurse, a clinical services technician, a software administrator, an analyst and an administrative clerk.
The team will provide mental health assessments, help develop care plans and provide behavioral health, employment and housing support services, and work with clients and the court.
County BHRS plans to contract for the services of a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist for the CARE Court program.
BHRS Director Tony Vartan said at Tuesday’s meeting the program won’t eliminate homelessness. But it should divert more people with mental disorders away from highly restrictive conservatorships or incarceration and also support them in the community, he said.
Supervisor Terry Withrow said he’s proud Stanislaus is one of the first counties to implement CARE Court.
“How do we not get involved to try to make this work?” Withrow said. Referring to the $2.1 million in annual costs for the additional staff, Withrow said local agencies spend much more dealing with people on the streets who are not treated for their mental illness.
Whom CARE Court is for
The program is for adults with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders who meet criteria. According to a county staff report, it may also be a next step after a person on a 5150 hold (for being a danger to themselves or others) is stabilized in a short-term psychiatric hospital, or it could be for defendants “who can be safely diverted from certain criminal proceedings.”
Family members, health care providers, first responders, hospital directors and county BHRS will be able to file a petition starting the CARE Court process. The court will review the petition and may order a clinical evaluation to determine if the person is eligible for CARE Court.
County BHRS, the individual and his appointed attorney will be involved in developing a treatment plan, which may include mental health treatment, medication and housing support.
The county is working with the Superior Court, district attorney and public defender to start the program Oct. 1.
Staff recruitment and housing for CARE Court participants are two challenges in trying to launch the program. County BHRS has counted 466 clients in treatment who are not sheltered or sleep in shelters or temporary housing.
The CARE Act, co-authored by state Sen. Susan Eggman, D-Stockton, considers stable housing as essential to good mental health outcomes for those who need help.
According to a county staff report, BHRS is working with the Housing Authority, Stanislaus Affordable Housing Corp. and other agencies to expand transitional and permanent housing for people with mental illness and substance use disorder.
Housing support uncertain
Assembly Bill 179, signed into law in September, provides for $1.5 billion statewide for “bridge” housing for homeless individuals gripped by mental illness or drug addiction.
Stanislaus County expects to get $10.8 million of that funding for housing CARE Court participants, which may include emergency housing, rental assistance and payments to adult residential providers.
“Although the (bridge) program will help to support the cost to house CARE Court participants, it does not appear to help address the local shortage of adult residential facilities, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing,” the county staff report said.
Funding for the 15 staff positions will come from the CARE Act, federal Medi-Cal funds and internal cost allocations. The costs are covered in the current BHRS department budget because of salary savings from vacant staff positions.
This story was originally published April 19, 2023 at 8:32 AM.
