Suffering from severe mental illnesses or supporting those who do can often feel helpless, like you’re in this fight alone. Not only do we need support on the ground to help us through difficult episodes, but we really could use a culturally competent and condition-aware system that will actually help us. Right now California legislature is considering bills SB1338 and AB2830 that form the Community Assistance, Recovery & Empowerment court, or C.A.R.E. court. If passed these bills would create a community-based system that directly supports persons in crisis with a time-structured care plan and goals of stabilization, self-sufficiency and even housing support. The idea behind C.A.R.E. court is to help vulnerable persons experiencing severe mental illness or substance abuse disorders from falling through the cracks, providing them with the tools and dedicated support that could prevent homelessness, incarceration, or other restrictive conservatorship interventions.
Support for the bills is due tonight at 11:59 p.m. PST. Read more about the proposed C.A.R.E court at this link and decide if you would like to send an email of support to dpo@platinumadvisors.com today.
Additional information can be found at: NAMI California’s Letter of Support, CA Governor’s Support Proposal, SB1338, AB2830
And if you are finding this message after the fact, regardless of the fate of these bills, you can find opportunities to receive help and find ways to support the mental health community through your local NAMI Pomona Valley. Walk in solidarity with us on May 21st.