Newsom Threatens to Redirect CARE Court Funding From 10 “Underperforming” Counties, Citing Slow Rollout of Mental Health Program
Governor Gavin Newsom warned March 3, 2026 he may redirect CARE Court funding from 10 counties he deemed slow to implement the mental‑health program, pledging state interventions and new housing dollars while prompting local pushback and debate.
- 10 counties labeled the “CARE ICU”: Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Yolo, Monterey and Fresno (state benchmark used for assessment).
- State metrics and scale: About 6.2 petitions per 100,000 residents was the benchmark; statewide totals included 3,817 petitions, 893 approved treatment agreements and 32 court‑ordered CARE placements.
- Simultaneous support and pressure: Newsom announced $291 million in new housing and behavioral health funding while creating an Improvement and Coordination Unit to assist struggling counties.
- Contested measurement: Officials and behavioral health leaders say the petitions‑per‑capita metric misses important local context and existing outreach efforts.
Background: what CARE Court is and how it began
CARE Court is a California civil‑court pathway intended to connect people with severe mental illness to treatment and supports. The law allows family members, friends or first responders to file a petition so a judge can connect someone to voluntary services or a court‑ordered care plan. Governor Newsom first proposed the plan in 2019 to modernize the state’s behavioral health system; pilots began in several counties in 2023 and the administration says statewide enrollment was reached by late 2024. For more reporting, see CalMatters.
How the state measured county performance
At a March 2 press conference, the governor’s office said it used a simple benchmark — roughly 6.2 petitions per 100,000 residents — to judge whether local courts were using the CARE Court pathway. Counties falling below that mark were labeled the Improvement and Coordination Unit, or “CARE ICU,” and targeted for additional oversight and support.
The numbers behind the warning
State projections expected between 7,000 and 12,000 Californians to qualify for CARE Court. As of Newsom’s March announcement:
- 3,817 petitions had been filed statewide;
- 893 treatment agreements had been approved by judges;
- 32 people had been placed on court‑ordered CARE plans;
- more than 4,000 people were diverted to other services outside CARE Court.
Newsom said he was “just out of patience” and warned he could redirect “every damn penny” from programs in underperforming counties to those meeting implementation goals.
“I’m just out of patience,” the governor said; he added the state could redirect “every damn penny” to counties that meet implementation goals.
County responses and pushback
Several county leaders responded quickly. Orange County officials said they were “utilizing the CARE intervention fully,” noting the county had the fifth‑highest number of petitions and 79 participants receiving housing, medication and supports. Santa Clara County Executive James Williams cautioned against reducing implementation to “a single scorecard,” emphasizing complexities like housing and outreach. San Francisco welcomed state support to strengthen local CARE Court work.
Newsom’s mix of pressure and support
Alongside the warning, the administration announced the creation of an Improvement and Coordination Unit to work with struggling counties and launched a public dashboard at accountability.ca.gov so residents can view county progress. Newsom indicated any funding reallocation would be considered in his revised state budget in May and would require legislative approval.
Funding announcements and apparent contradictions
The governor simultaneously announced $291 million in new housing and behavioral health funding: $131.8 million in Homekey+ awards to create 443 housing units, and $159 million in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention dollars. Notably, three counties labeled in the “CARE ICU” — San Bernardino, Monterey and Fresno — were listed as recipients of new state awards, illustrating tension between funding choices and the state’s critique of implementation.
Questions about the metric
Behavioral health leaders and county officials said the petitions‑per‑capita metric can miss context. The County Behavioral Health Directors Association argued the metric fails to account for counties with strong proactive outreach or services that prevent crises and reduce the need for court petitions. A CalMatters investigation also noted anomalies — for example, San Diego County, which saw the most CARE Court graduations by summer 2025, did not appear on the state’s champions list.
CARE Champions and local success stories
Newsom announced 10 “CARE Champions” — counties the state said had successfully integrated CARE Court — including Alameda, Humboldt, Imperial, Marin, Merced, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Sutter and Tuolumne. Part of the announcement took place at Regis Village in Alameda, a mental health campus with 44 beds devoted to CARE Court participants.
Policy and the legislative path forward
Any proposal to reallocate CARE Court funds in Newsom’s May budget would need legislative approval. The California State Association of Counties noted counties are acting “following the law as written,” and changes to funding streams would require legal and legislative steps.
Implications for Los Angeles
Economic impact
Los Angeles County could face scrutiny and potential loss of CARE Court‑targeted dollars, which might slow housing and service expansion tied to the program. However, statewide dollars announced by the governor, including Homekey+ awards and homeless assistance funds, may still support local projects.
Political consequences
The public naming of Los Angeles as part of the “CARE ICU” raises pressure on local leaders to show measurable progress and may intensify coordination — and conflict — between Sacramento and county officials ahead of budget votes.
Social effects
For Angelenos experiencing severe mental illness and for families and first responders, delays in CARE Court rollout could mean slower access to court‑connected services. Community outreach, housing and treatment programs may see referral shifts if petitions or court agreements change.
Cultural relevance and practical applications
A push to increase CARE Court petitions in Los Angeles may spark debate about uses of the court system for behavioral health interventions, civil liberties, and the balance between public safety and care. County courts, behavioral health teams and family advocates should prepare for tighter timelines and new performance targets. Residents can track progress at accountability.ca.gov.
