(Oct. 6, 2015) The Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize Laura’s Law today, making court-ordered outpatient treatment possible for those at risk-individuals with serious mental illness who meet the state’s strict criteria (“Board of supervisors to negotiate union contract,” Redding Record Searchlight, Oct. 6).
“Passing Laura’s Law helps provide better services to everyone in their community. It saves money, it saves lives and it helps people get well,” said Carla Jacobs, a member of the Treatment Advocacy Center Board of Directors. “It’s time every county implement this vital program.”
First enacted in 2002, Laura’s Law provides for court-ordered outpatient treatment for individuals with a severe mental illness, but only operates in counties where the board of supervisors authorizes its application.
Laura’s Law is a less-restrictive alternative to involuntary hospitalization, also called assisted outpatient treatment (AOT). Left untreated, people with severe mental illness often suffer from delusions, hallucinations and paranoia to the point where they may end up committing suicide, living on the streets or other degrading circumstances.
Both the Department of Justice and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have announced their recognition of AOT as an evidence-based program. In addition, the health research arm of the Department of Health and Human Services highlighted AOT in a report on strategies to reduce psychiatric readmissions.
With this vote 13 California counties have fully implemented the law, but families in the state’s other 45 counties are still without access to this proven method of supporting recovery from the most severe mental illness.
More than half of the population of California, representing over 19.5 million people, has access to Laura’s Law.
We offer heartfelt thank-yous to the advocates who work tirelessly to pass Laura’s Law. Your hard work is paying off for families and people suffering from mental illness across the state.
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