CARE Court
The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act intends to provide mental health and related services to individuals who meet specific criteria. Stanislaus is one of the first seven counties to implement CARE Court.
The Court will begin accepting petitions on Monday, October 2 at Windows #10 and #11 in the Family Law lobby at 1100 I St in Modesto. Petitions can also be filed electronically. The Self-Help Center will assist petitioners by walk-in starting October 2.
Court Process
All cases will begin with a petition (form CARE-100). The form states who is eligible to be a petitioner.
A judge will review the petition to determine if the petitioner made an initial showing that the respondent may meet the CARE criteria. After subsequent reports and hearings, a judge will decide if the respondent meets the criteria. If the parties reach an agreement or the Court adopts a plan, then the Court will hold review hearings.
Respondents who meet the criteria will receive services for up to one year. At that point they may graduate from the program, remain in the program, or the Court may involuntarily reappoint them to the program. If they remain in the program, then they will receive services for up to one additional year.
Additional Resources
- Court Forms
- This includes the petition and information for petitioners
- California Courts Overview
- Includes instructions for completing and filing a petition
- Specifies who is eligible for CARE Court and which conditions are not eligible
- Specifies who can file a petition
- CARE Act Resource Center
- This contains information and trainings on topics in CARE Court
- Stanislaus County Behavioral Health Agency
- Programs, services, and resources available through Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
- Information specific to CARE coming soon