Courting Disappointment
Many Californians caring for someone with severe mental illnesses felt hope when they learned Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a new court program to help families like theirs. They believed he heard their pleas, and that his proposal would lead to real change.
The program, known as CARE Court, now operates in every county. It allows families or first responders to petition courts for care on behalf of someone with severe mental illness and empowers judges to order treatment in some cases.
But today, some of the same families who embraced the concept are deeply discouraged by CARE Court as their loved ones continue to reject treatment and live on the streets.
“We get so pumped up with hope,” said Ronda Deplazes of Contra Costa County, who turned to the program to help her son. “I think the frustration and disappointment is more than a person can bear. That’s the truth of it. That is the bottom line.”
CalMatters journalists Marisa Kendall, Jocelyn Wiener, Erica Yee and Yue Stella Yu spent much of 2025 reporting on how CARE Court is working – and how it’s not. They interviewed dozens of participants, collected data and traced the legislative changes that limited CARE Court’s reach. The result is the most-comprehensive statewide picture yet of CARE Court, who it can help, and who is still falling through the cracks.
