“California State Assembly Bill 34 (AB34), signed into law in 1999, funded pilot mental health programs in three counties. These programs provide assertive community support to mentally ill adults who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who may be involved with the criminal justice system. Many individuals with mental illness become homeless and incarcerated due to the lack of integrated, effective psychiatric, medical and social services.

“The Stanislaus Department of Mental Health selected Telecare to participate in this demonstration because of its experience successfully delivering integrated services to individuals with serious mental illness. The goals of these programs are to reduce homelessness, jail recidivism, substance use and psychiatric hospitalizations.

“It is hoped that members will be able to increase their options for living, learning, working and socializing, while using less of the county's costly acute psychiatric services. Funding for additional homeless outreach programs is contingent on the outcomes of these pilots.”- from the website.