Gavin Newsom proposes plan to send California homeless, addicts to treatment

California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a plan on Thursday that would force people that don’t voluntarily seek or accept treatment for severe mental health or addiction disorders into treatment.

According to KTVU, the plan would require all counties in the state to set up a mental health branch within the civil court to assist those in need of help but won’t accept the services.

Under the proposal, called Care Court, counties would be required to provide comprehensive treatment to those suffering from debilitating psychosis. Those identified as needing treatment would be obligated to accept the care. Counties that don’t provide the services would risk sanctions, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Efforts such as this have run into opposition in the past, with mental health advocates worrying that it would lead back to the days of institutionalizations, and say that voluntary care should be expanded further.

Newsom told the San Fransisco Chronicle that there’s no more time for debate over the people’s civil rights as these people in need of help endure degradation and attack people in the streets.

"There’s no compassion with people with their clothes off defecating and urinating in the middle of the streets, screaming and talking to themselves," Newsom said.

"There’s nothing appropriate about a kid and a mom going down the street trying to get to the park being accosted by people who clearly need help," he said.

"I’m increasingly outraged by what’s going on in the streets," Newsom said. "I’m disgusted with it."

The proposal would need legislative approval, with Newsom hoping to receive that by June for a January 2023 implementation.

Under the plan, those suffering from psychosis, whoever triggered, could reportedly be brought before a Superior Court judge under three circumstances: they are suspected of a crime, an involuntary hold in a psychiatric emergency room is ending, or a family member or outreach worker believes they cannot care for themselves. In court, a public defender would represent them.

A county clinical team would then create a care plan with input from the person and their "supporter," and a county case manager would help them make decisions throughout the process.

The plan would likely include clinical services like prescriptions, psychiatrist visits, and housing.

The person would not need to be homeless to qualify.

"If a judge ordered the plan, the county would be mandated to provide what’s needed and the person would be required to accept it," the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

If the person suffering from psychosis refuses, their criminal case against them would proceed. If no crime was committed, the person could face an existing state process where those deemed gravely disabled or a danger to themselves or others would be placed under involuntary holds and eventual conservatorship.

Medication could be court ordered, but would not be forcibly given to the person, though failure to take mandated medications could mean that the person reverts to the criminal court or a conservatorship.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly called the plan the "beginning of a conversation about how we address one of the most important problems in California," according to KTVU.

He said the effort is to address what "for many of us is one of the most heartbreaking, heart-wrenching" challenges, and "that is how do we serve the needs of individuals who are the sickest of the sick?"

"It’s about a new pathway," Ghaly said. "It’s about a paradigm shift."

Ghaly anticipates that the program could apply to between 7,000 to 12,000 people across the state.