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Full Report
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A Promising Start:
Results from a California Survey Assessing the Use of Laura's Law
February 2019
A Promising Start: Results from a California Survey Assessing the Use of Laura's Law aims to bring together available information about the implementation of Laura's Law, and show the variances in practice across the state. A Promising Start serves as a tool for counties to improve existing programs, highlights recommended practices, and enables counties to compare their own experience and program outcomes with those of their counterparts.
Summary
This report shows the much improved outcomes of people with severe mental illness who are identified and targeted through outreach for robust, comprehensive community services and support. The enrollment successes of Laura’s Law underscore the importance and effectiveness of ACT and programs like it. But the current partial implementation of Laura’s Law continues to underserve—and in some cases fail outright—the population it was created to help.
Key Findings
- While this report was being prepared 39 (now 38) of Californias 58 counties had yet to implement Laura's Law
- Laura's Law is proven to reduce unnecessary suffering among individuals with severe mental illness in California
- All county programs reporting data have experienced decreases in psychiatric hospitalizations, incarcerations and homelessness
- The majority of county Laura's Law programs experienced decreases in all outcomes measured
- Among the California counties with Laura's Law implementation, referral and reporting varies greatly
- Nevada County, the first to implement Laura's Law more than 10 years ago, remains the most successful program
- In Nevada County alone, for every dollar spent the county saved $1.81 in reduced jail times and decreased hospitalization
- Four counties have no individuals enrolled in court-overseen Laura's Law