CARE Act proceedings

(a) Unique role of the CARE Act court judicial officer

Judicial officers of CARE Act courts, in consultation with the presiding judge of the superior court and to the extent that it does not interfere with the adjudication process, are encouraged to:

(1) Exercise their authority under statute or rule to review, order, and enforce the delivery of specific supports and services for respondents, including prioritization for supports and services, where appropriate; and

(2) Facilitate coordination of supports and services by using their authority to join multiple local agencies when the agencies have appeared to fail to fulfill their legal obligations to provide supports and services to the respondent.

(b) Role of the CARE Act court

The CARE Act court should:

(1) Convene relevant local public agencies and stakeholders, including behavioral health and social service agencies, to coordinate the provision of available services through CARE agreements and CARE plans that use the least restrictive means to promote respondents’ recovery, safety, and stability; and

(2) Work to accommodate the sharing of information among agencies within the limits of the statutory framework.

Standard 7.20 adopted effective July 1, 2025.