May 2025

The CARE process can take different pathways through the civil court. The process begins with the petitioner initiating the case, which may be prompted by a referral. For a referral, a person or an organization can provide information for county BH to file a petition. A few referral pathways are specified in CARE, including referrals from LPS designated facilities and court referrals. However, county BH can consider establishing referral processes from referral sources not specified in the statute. Referrals in CARE can facilitate access to services for eligible individuals.

Consider reviewing recent referral resources below.

• Referrals to CARE: This training overviews the referral process for statutory CARE referrals from LPS designated facilities and court referrals, as well as referrals from community partners and family members. The live open-forum recording includes a review of statutory CARE referrals and a panel discussion on current CARE referral processes and successful strategies that can be replicated by county BH agencies.
• Facility Referrals to the CARE Act Process: This resources links to the newly released Behavioral Health Information Notice 25-012: Facility Referrals to the CARE Act Process and standardized referral form. While facilities are encouraged to use the DHCS form, county BH agencies are required to accept referrals regardless of the form or manner in which they are submitted.