Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – Marin County has been named a statewide “CARE Champion” by Governor Gavin Newsom in recognition of its leadership in implementing the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act.
The CARE Act connects individuals living with untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to treatment, housing, and long-term support through a civil court–guided care plan. Marin was recognized as one of 10 counties with the highest per-capita implementation rates during the first full year of statewide participation.
Since statewide rollout, thousands of Californians have been connected to behavioral health services through CARE petitions and diversions — helping individuals access treatment before crises deepen.
“CARE Court reflects what we know to be true — that people living with serious mental illness deserve coordinated care, stable housing, and a real path toward recovery,” said Todd Schirmer, PhD, CCHP, Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services for the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “We are committed to proactive and long-term outreach and engagement to ensure individuals are not navigating complex systems alone. This recognition affirms the strength of our partnerships and our focus on meaningful outcomes.”
“In Marin County, we believe in meeting challenges with compassion and accountability. CARE Court reflects that commitment by connecting people living with serious mental illness to structured, meaningful support,” said Board of Supervisors President Eric Lucan. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and encouraged by the progress still ahead as we continue strengthening this program for those who need it most.”
Marin HHS works closely with the Superior Court, the Public Defender’s Office, providers, and community partners to connect eligible individuals to behavioral health treatment, case management, housing navigation, and supportive services.
“The County’s collaborative effort across multiple departments, service providers, and the Superior Court provides a strong foundation of dignity for community members struggling with mental health challenges, helping them stabilize in a meaningful way,” said Marin County Public Defender David Joseph Sutton. “The County’s coordinated approach ensures that many community members engaged in the criminal legal system as a result of mental illness are both safety-valved out of the system and provided with meaningful and robust care that will drastically deter future reengagement with the criminal system.”
CARE Court was launched in December 2024 for Marin County. A key to success was not only embracing the technical requirements of the mandate but also prioritizing the goal of removing barriers and meeting clients where they are.
“Our mission as a court is to ensure fair and equal access to justice and serve the public with dignity and respect,” said Judge James Schurz, who presides over Marin’s CARE Court. “CARE Court is about providing comprehensive treatment, housing, and supportive services to individuals with complex behavioral health care needs. It is about helping our chronically mentally ill neighbors stabilize and continue on a court-supervised pathway to wellness and recovery. It reflects our highest aspirations as a court. As Governor Newsom accurately stated, ‘All our neighbors deserve treatment, dignity and hope.’ And the heroes in this story, are the CARE participants who engage with our mental health professionals and do the hard work to build a better, stable future.”
The CARE Champion designation highlights Marin’s continued commitment to reducing unsheltered homelessness and strengthening the behavioral health continuum.
For more information about the CARE Act in Marin County, visit marinbhrs.org/CARE.