New Santa Cruz CARE Act seeks to assist people struggling with mental health and addiction
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The County of Santa Cruz announced Wednesday that they are offering a program to all people living in the county meeting certain eligibility requirements.
The program is known as the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act program, and is currently available to people in need.
According to the county, this program is part of a statewide initiative to offer people living in California easier access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. It will also offer support services to community members with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other specific psychotic disorders, according to the county.
The county is hoping that the CARE Act will incentivize qualifying people to voluntarily engage in behavioral health treatment for stabilization within a community setting.
People being assisted under the CARE Act will receive priority housing with the county's new bridge housing facility when it's finished, which the county expects will be about 30 to 40 individuals per year.
According to the county, the entire program is voluntary but a petition can be signed on behalf of a person struggling with mental health if that's needed. The county said that if a person has a petition filled out on their behalf, that is the first step in requesting court-ordered treatment, services, supports and housing resources.
The county says that after 12 months in the program, CARE Act participants can choose to either graduate or continue for one additional year.
"This program provides a vital pathway for individuals in our community living with mental illness to receive the supportive services they need,” said Sasha Morgan, Court Executive Officer for the Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
The CARE Act began taking people for enrollment on December 2 with one person already in the program and a second person being considered by the court.
People seeking help through the CARE Act should visit https://santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/CountyAdministrativeOffice/CAREAct.aspx
