Santa Clara County Defends Mental Health Approach Amid Newsom Criticism

County leaders say their holistic approach to mental health services is more effective than the governor's CARE Court agenda.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized Santa Clara County for not bringing enough people through the state-mandated CARE Court system, designed to allow family members and first responders to petition the court to help treat adults with psychotic disorders. However, county leaders and mental health advocates argue that Santa Clara County's approach to mental health is more comprehensive, with a focus on building relationships and connecting people to voluntary treatment through outreach efforts, rather than relying solely on the CARE Court process.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing mental health issues, with different approaches and priorities between state and local governments. Santa Clara County's stance suggests that a one-size-fits-all solution like CARE Court may not be the most effective way to reach those in need, and that a more holistic, community-based approach may be more impactful.

The details

Since the implementation of CARE Court in December 2024, Santa Clara County has filed 53 petitions, which is lower than other counties like Alameda. However, the county says this doesn't reflect the number of people they've connected to voluntary treatment through referrals and outreach efforts. The county has also implemented other mental health programs, such as a behavior health navigator program, a police alternative mental health mobile crisis program, and an assisted outpatient treatment program. County officials argue that their approach builds more trust with individuals and leads to better outcomes when people willingly engage with services.

  • CARE Court was implemented statewide by Dec. 1, 2024.
  • Since December 2024, Santa Clara County has filed 53 CARE Court petitions.
  • In January 2026, the CARE Court program was expanded to include individuals diagnosed with bipolar I disorder with psychosis, which is expected to increase the number of petitions filed in Santa Clara County.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California who criticized Santa Clara County for not bringing enough people through the CARE Court system.

Andrew Siegler

A mental health advocate who said Santa Clara County's approach to mental health is more holistic than the governor's agenda.

Ky Le

The Santa Clara County Deputy County Executive who oversees the Behavioral Health Services Department.

Soo Jung

The Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Department Director who helped bring the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program online.

Jim Beall

A Valley Water board director who championed the expansion of mental health services during his time as a former county supervisor and state senator.

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What they’re saying

“There are a number of counties that get it and are getting things done, proving it can be done when you have leadership that cares enough to get it done. I'm just not interested in funding failure now … there's a lot of power in LA County, Riverside County, Santa Clara County, some of the counties we are calling out. But with respect, I'm happy to sweep every damn dollar and redirect it to folks up in Humboldt, in Alameda.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (mv-voice.com)

“Since when did Gavin Newsom have any experience in the mental health industry? The county has built hundreds of (treatment) beds for people, (and provided funding) for non-law enforcement crisis response. (CARE Court is) not the only thing that matters, and it shouldn't be the only thing any county is doing.”

— Andrew Siegler, Mental Health Advocate (San José Spotlight)

“The number of petitions filed isn't the only indicator of our progress, our efforts and the number of people who are getting help.”

— Ky Le, Santa Clara County Deputy County Executive (San José Spotlight)

“When the staff are going out, whether it is someone's home or on the streets, they will also ask, 'What do you need?' And it will oftentimes help them to open up. We also find that actually produces better outcomes when somebody is willingly and voluntarily engaging with services rather than having to go through the court process.”

— Soo Jung, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Department Director (San José Spotlight)

“You don't see a lot of initial clients going into the CARE Court, because I think they're already in the other courts. We were the first (to create the behavioral health court) and other counties have followed us. (Newsom) doesn't understand that we already have a multitude of different types of specialty courts.”

— Jim Beall, Valley Water Board Director (San José Spotlight)

What’s next

The state of California is expected to see an increase in CARE Court petitions in 2026 due to the recent expansion of the program to include individuals diagnosed with bipolar I disorder with psychosis.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing mental health issues, with different approaches and priorities between state and local governments. Santa Clara County's stance suggests that a one-size-fits-all solution like CARE Court may not be the most effective way to reach those in need, and that a more holistic, community-based approach focused on building relationships and connecting people to voluntary treatment may be more impactful.