San Bernardino County CARE Court offers alternative pathways to mental health services

Jef Harmatz Jef Harmatz Send an email August 9, 2026

Local Third District Representative and Chair of the County Board of Supervisors Dawn Rowe was a guest on a recent episode of the Z017.7 Up Close Show. Host Gary Daigneault asked Rowe about the County’s involvement in the CARE Act. The County describes the program as a new pathway to deliver mental health services to the people who are severely impacted by mental health issues, including people who are unhoused or incarcerated.

Rowe said, “CARE is an acronym. It stands for Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, and counties could opt into CARE Court through the state. Governor Gavin Newsom has sponsored and is promoting care court. It’s not just a program within San Bernardino County, but we have opted into the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court.

“It is a civil court program that is designed to help adults with untreated schizophrenia, bipolar one disorder and psychotic features. Let’s say you’re a family member and you have someone that has mental health challenges that may be diagnosed or undiagnosed. And are they going to go into the hospital? Are they going to go and be incarcerated? Would you like to seek a conservatorship? You as a concerned family have not had the ability to petition the court to help your loved ones. CARE Court does that.

“You would file a petition with the court. An eligible person, usually a family member, could be a first responder or even a roommate. It could also be a behavioral health practitioner. The court would then conduct an initial review from the petition that was submitted. There are legal requirements. And then the court appoints an attorney and the attorney looks at all the facts.

They consult with County Behavioral Health will come and meet with the person. Oftentimes they’re on the streets, so they have  to go find them with the help and the assistance of the petitioner and they do an assessment.

Behavioral Health goes back and reports their findings to the court and the court determines if it’s an appropriate placement in CARE Court. Then the court and Behavioral Health take that person into their care and concern… they monitor the progress and they are then assessed. They get medicine, psychiatric treatment, therapy and case management, housing support, and behavioral health services.”

You can call the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health at 1-888-743-1478

https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate/care-act

Jef Harmatz Jef Harmatz Send an email August 9, 2026
Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz

Jef Harmatz is the co-host of Z107.7’s “Morning Show with Cody and Jef” and Z107.7’s News Director. He has worked as a journalist, cartoonist, chef, and delivery driver. He is known nationally for his writing and comics in publications like TimeOut, Popula, Roadtrippers, Solrad and Spiralbound, and for his album covers for Third Eye Blind and Sir Sly. He is known locally for his pop-up barbecue restaurant Hot Dog Panic. He remains unknown in the field of beekeeping, because he is too afraid of being stung to try it. When not on the radio, he draws comics and self-publishes little books. He lives with his partner and his dog Sunday in Yucca Valley, where he cooks them both elaborate meals.