Newsom Threatens to Redirect CARE Court Funding from 10 Counties, Citing “Underperformance” in State Mental Health Rollout
Sacramento, California (High Desert News Online) – Governor Gavin Newsom warned March 2, 2026, he may reallocate CARE Court funding from ten California counties — including Los Angeles and San Francisco — citing counties’ underperformance in connecting people with severe mental illness to treatment.
- State benchmark and threat: Newsom flagged counties below a benchmark of 6.2 petitions per 100,000 residents and said funding could be redirected to better-performing counties.
- Mixed results: Since statewide launch, the state reports 3,817 petitions, 893 approved treatment agreements, and only 32 court-ordered plans.
- Assistance, not just punishment: The administration created a CARE Improvement and Coordination Unit (CARE ICU) to provide technical help to struggling counties.
What Newsom said and why
At a March 2 press conference in Alameda County, inside the under-construction Regis Village mental health facility, Newsom expressed frustration with counties lagging on CARE Court implementation and demanded stronger results and faster action.
“I’m happy to redirect every damn penny in these programs to the counties that are getting things done, period, full stop,” Newsom said, a comment that prompted immediate pushback from county leaders and broad media coverage. Video of the press conference is posted by the governor’s office; see the video of his remarks for the full remarks.
CARE Court background
Announced in 2019, CARE Court was designed to modernize California’s behavioral health system by allowing families, first responders or others to petition a court so judges can connect people with severe mental illness to voluntary treatment or a court-ordered plan. The state piloted CARE Court in select counties in 2023 and completed a statewide launch by 2024–2025.
Officials present CARE Court as an accountability tool to route people into care — not a substitute for housing or broad treatment capacity.
State data and the “scorecard” approach
The administration used a single numerical benchmark — about 6.2 petitions per 100,000 residents — to flag counties it deemed underperforming. The metric measured how many people were moved into voluntary or court-ordered treatment per population. The state also launched an online dashboard at accountability.ca.gov for public tracking.
Newsom identified a “bottom 10” group — Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Yolo — and contrasted them with 10 “CARE Champions” that the state said integrated the program well.
State benchmark reporting and sources
The governor cited state data and media reporting; see coverage from CalMatters and KFI AM 640 (iHeart) for detailed figures and the administration’s public statements.
County leaders push back
Several counties disputed the state’s characterization and warned against relying on a single metric that can miss prevention, diversion, and local legal constraints. Officials emphasized broader local work on housing, prevention and treatment expansion.
- Orange County: Officials say the county is actively using CARE Court and ranks fifth statewide for petitions filed, with 79 participants placed in housing or receiving medications and services.
- Santa Clara County: Leaders noted expansions in treatment and housing and cautioned that a simple scorecard can overlook prevention and diversion efforts.
- San Francisco: Officials welcomed state support and pointed to local progress — fewer encampments and improved shelter and treatment access under city leadership.
The County Behavioral Health Directors Association and the California State Association of Counties warned the petition-count metric could overlook crucial local work and legal limits, arguing many counties are complying with the law while operating within constraints.
State support, funding and next steps
Newsom framed the move as an effort to accelerate CARE Court, not merely to punish. The administration announced a CARE Improvement and Coordination Unit (CARE ICU) to provide technical assistance and training to struggling counties.
The state also highlighted existing investments: $131.8 million in Homekey+ funding (Prop 1) to create 443 homes, and $159 million through Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP), part of a broader $1 billion plan for 2024–25. Some counties in the underperforming list have received these awards.
The governor suggested a revised May 2026 budget could propose redirecting CARE Court–related funds, but any reallocation of county-level allocations would require legislative approval, making the move political and administrative rather than immediate.
Performance numbers raise questions
State reporting shows fewer than expected people have entered CARE Court: of 3,817 petitions filed, there are 893 approved treatment agreements and 32 court-ordered plans. More than 4,000 referrals were diverted to other services, well short of early projections of 7,000–12,000 qualifying people.
Advocates and county officials say the gap raises questions about referral pathways, resource limits, and whether the court mechanism fits every case. A referenced tragedy known in briefings as “Keith’s story” has been cited as a driving impetus for faster CARE pathways.
Implications for The High Desert, California
The High Desert lies within San Bernardino County, one of the counties the state labeled underperforming. Potential implications include:
- Economic impact: State reallocation could create uncertainty for local programs that rely on outreach, treatment and housing grants, potentially slowing Homekey+ projects and hiring for community mental health teams.
- Political consequences: Local leaders may feel pressure to produce measurable results to protect funding and could increase cooperation with the state’s CARE ICU.
- Social effects: Slower CARE Court adoption could mean fewer court-linked paths into treatment, prolonging strain on first responders, hospitals and crisis services.
- Cultural relevance: A public “scorecard” labeling the region as underperforming may stir resentment; framing state help as technical assistance may be more politically palatable locally.
- Practical applications: Families, first responders and courts could see changes to referral pathways; successful ICU support could speed petitions and linkages, while funding threats could delay service expansion.
What to watch next
- County officials’ formal responses and any data clarifications as counties update the state dashboard at accountability.ca.gov.
- Budget proposals in May 2026 that could seek to reallocate CARE Court–related funds; legislative approval would be required for changes.
- How the CARE ICU works with San Bernardino and other counties to increase petitions, treatment agreements and practical support for people with severe mental illness.
Sources and reporting
Governor’s remarks and state rollout details: CalMatters
State data and county responses: KFI AM 640 (iHeart)
Video of Newsom press conference and administration statements: YouTube
Reporting by High Desert News Online
