Sonoma County CARE Court and Mental Health Diversion Overview

Created on Jul 27, 2026 17:54:41

Summary

You attended a meeting focused on behavioral health and legal petition processes, specifically touching on Care Court proceedings. The group discussed the challenges of case management, featuring stories of individuals overcoming severe symptoms to re-engage with their families. Key logistics included upcoming participation in the NAMI Walk on October 17th, contact information for licensed clinicians like Colleen Christie and Jackie Dean, and the technicalities of e-filing court petitions while maintaining client confidentiality.

CARE Court Overview and Eligibility

• Civil, not criminal court: Focuses on voluntary engagement with no risk of jail
• Qualifying diagnoses: Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and psychotic disorders
• Expanded as of Jan 1, 2025, to include bipolar disorder with psychotic features
• Does not cover autism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or personality disorders without psychosis
• Filing process: Requires CARE-100 and CARE-101 forms
• Evidence of diagnosis (e.g., hospital discharge, clinical records) must be attached
• Filing available in person at civil clerk’s office or via e-filing

Petitioner Categories

• Family/Close Contacts: Parents, spouses, siblings, roommates, or partners
• First Responders: Law enforcement, fire departments, or mobile crisis units (e.g., inRESPONSE)
• Licensed Clinicians: Behavioral health providers (LMFTs, LCSWs)
• Self-referral: Individuals meeting criteria can technically file for themselves
• Court/Justice Partners: Increasing trend of direct referrals from criminal or LPS courts

Operational Workflow

• Prima Facie Showing: Judge reviews filing to ensure petitioner relationship and qualifying diagnosis exist
• Behavioral Health Substitution: Once accepted, County Behavioral Health takes over as petitioner from families or first responders
• Service of Process: Significant delays occur when potential respondents are unhoused or difficult to locate
• Treatment Team: Includes the judge, respondent’s counsel (Public Defender), County Counsel, and clinicians

Housing and Resources

• BHBH Housing (Arrowwood): 80-90 beds available for CARE Court and diversion clients
• Facility is unlocked with a curfew (typically 10 PM – 6 AM)
• Provides up to one year of supportive services
• Warm Handoffs: Efforts made to coordinate releases from jail to community care to avoid “dumping” on the street

Parallel Systems and Diversion

• Mental Health Diversion: Runs in parallel with CARE Court for justice-involved individuals
• IST (Incompetent to Stand Trial): New funding used for a dedicated attorney to prevent state hospital transfers
• by providing local treatment
• Quota/Fine System: Counties are fined (e.g., $2.9M) if they exceed quotas for sending people to State Hospitals
• Conservatorship (LPS): Distinct from CARE Court; involves three-day (5150) to one-year holds for “grave disability”