Families and Children
This section includes resources and program information in the areas of Family and Juvenile law. It also includes conference materials and a comprehensive list of publications produced by the Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC).
Of Current Interest
CARE Act Implementation
The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act authorizes specified adult persons to petition a civil court to create a voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan that can include treatment, housing support, and other services for persons with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.
- The CARE Act (SB 1338) took effect on January 1, 2023. On September 30, 2023, SB 35 took effect and clarified requirements for the CARE Act process.
- 7 counties (Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Tuolumne) implemented on October 2, 2023.
- Los Angeles implemented December 1, 2023.
- The remaining 50 counties must implement by December 1, 2024.
- For more information about the CARE Act, visit the Adult Civil Mental Health page.
This five-minute video walks through the seven eligibility criteria that must be met in order for someone to be eligible for services under the CARE Act.
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Court Interpreter Certification Cycle
The annual Court Interpreter Renewal and Compliance Period will open on September 15th for all interpreters to submit their annual renewal fee and compliance attestation. The renewal and compliance period ends December 31, 2023. Information will be communicated by e-mail on September 15th to all active interpreters on the Judicial Council Master List of California Certified Court and Registered Interpreters. Detailed information including the attached memo will also be sent to Human Resources contacts, Language Access Representatives, and Interpreter Coordinators in your court.
Materials will also be posted at Annual Court Interpreter Renewal and Compliance page.
If you have any questions concerning the annual Court Interpreter Renewal and Compliance process, please email [email protected].
Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Funding
The August Trial Court Trust Fund Court Operations Distribution included CARE Act funding for all courts, both the Cohort 1 courts implementing the CARE Act in fiscal year 2023-24 and Cohort 2 courts planning implementation for 2024-25. Funding is intended to support hearing costs and other court operations costs including clerk and administrative support, court coordinators, self-help centers, and other costs associated with planning for and hearing cases in this new case type. Please consult with JC IT before making technology purchases and JC Facilities Office for facility improvements.
For any questions, please contact Don Will at [email protected].
California Courts Juvenile Portal: Juvenile Cases, Articles, Resources, and Trainings (JCART)
CFCC’s online learning repository has moved from CalDOG to Juvenile Cases, Articles, Resources, Training - also known as JCART. Users accounts have moved to JCART; to access JCART you need to do a one-time password reset. If you receive a login error, need to update your email address, or need to start a new account, please contact [email protected] and we will be more than happy to assist you. For your convenience here are two videos on how to access and navigate our new site.
About Juvenile Collaborative Court Models
This series of briefings provides an introduction to juvenile collaborative courts, including what types of courts exist, how they work, and how they can be replicated, as well as an overview of various juvenile collaborative court models, information about starting a juvenile collaborative court model, and potential impacts of new laws on juvenile collaborative courts.
Quick Links
Contact Info
Center for Families, Children & the Courts
Operations & Programs DivisionJudicial Council of California
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 6th Floor
San Francisco, California
94102-3688
E-mail: [email protected]