HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. — Senate Bill 27, which took effect in 2026, will expand the CARE Act to include individuals with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. The bill also allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to sign mental health declarations, thereby increasing provider capacity. Jacob Rosen, managing mental health clinician for CARE, expressed optimism about the expansion, stating, “Individuals with schizophrenia, even though it’s a very different disorder, can present similarly with that psychotic features component, and so by adding that to the criteria, we’re able to help more people.” Rosen also noted that the expansion would ease the workload for health professionals by reducing the need for multiple hearings, saving time and energy for both clients and county behavioral health teams.
Humboldt County first implemented the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court program on Dec. 1, 2024, as part of a state initiative to support individuals with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders. The program aims to divert individuals from more restrictive settings, such as conservatorship or incarceration, into community-based treatment supported by an individualized CARE Agreement or CARE Plan.
Eligibility for CARE Court requires individuals to be 18 or older, have a diagnosis within the schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders, and currently experience severe mental illness symptoms. They must also not be clinically stabilized in ongoing voluntary treatment and meet additional criteria indicating a need for supervision or services to prevent deterioration. Petitions to begin CARE Court proceedings can be submitted by first responders, family members, public guardians, hospital directors, licensed behavioral health providers, and others. The Humboldt County Behavioral Health team is prepared to connect individuals with services and can be reached at their 24/7 Access, Crisis, and Support Line.
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