Assisted outpatient treatment (AKA “Laura's Law”) services expand

• Santa Clara County’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program – also known as Laura’s Law – provides temporary court-ordered outpatient care for at-risk individuals with severe mental illness.
• The County’s program shows higher effectiveness in getting individuals into voluntary treatment, with only three percent of total referrals requiring court-ordered treatment, compared to a statewide average of 20 percent.
• Following the success of serving 50 individuals during the first year of the program, an additional $3.4 million will be allocated to expand the program.

SAN JOSE – Santa Clara County’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program, which provides temporary court-ordered outpatient care for at-risk individuals with severe mental illness, will be expanding to help even more people. An additional$3.4 million will be allocated to the program as part of the County’s budget process following its first year of successful operation.

The AOT program – also known as Laura’s Law – is targeted specifically to individuals whose illnesses are so severe that they do not recognize the need for treatment, have a history of refusing or abandoning treatment services, and are considered at-risk living in the community without supervision. Individuals are in the program temporarily, until they can maintain their own treatment.

“AOT is just one important tool friends and families can use when a loved one is suffering with serious mental illness,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who Chairs the County‘s Health and Hospital Committee and recommended the County opt into the program in 2021. “It’s not a cure-all. Sometimes, though, there are folks who are too ill to know that they’re ill and need the help. Getting them the help they need and deserve is what this effort is all about.”

During the first year of the program (February 2022 through February 2023), the County’s Behavioral Health Services Department received 252 inquiries about services and 65 individuals met eligibility criteria and were referred to AOT. Most program referrals came from family members and behavioral health providers.

Santa Clara County’s AOT program shows higher effectiveness in getting individuals into voluntary treatment, with only three percent of total referrals requiring court-ordered treatment, compared to a statewide average of 20 percent.

“With AOT in place, we have an opportunity to help these individuals start along the road to recovery and to a more fulfilling life,” wrote the Santa Clara County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in a letter submitted to the Board’s Health and Hospital Committee back in March 2021.

AOT treatment consists of intensive individual and group clinical services, peer support, intensive case management, housing assistance, 24/7 clinical crisis support and medicine evaluation. It does not mandate medication or inpatient treatment.

As part of the 2023-2024 budget process, the Board of Supervisors is planning to allocate an additional $3.4 million to AOT to serve an additional 50 individuals by the end of 2023. Funds will be used to add program staff and build clinic space to expand access.

“I’m pleased to hear the program has been successful in getting folks the help they need, and will soon be expanding to help even more,” said Simitian. “There are folks in our community who have a right to mental health care but unfortunately have not yet been able to access the support they need because they are too ill to know they need treatment. With this program, we have a chance to get them some help. It’s not for every patient. But for some families, it’s been a godsend.”

To be eligible for AOT, an individual must be 18 years or older and have a severe mental illness, and be unlikely to survive in the community based on a clinical determination. They must have a history of noncompliance with treatment, or have been offered and refused to voluntarily participate in a treatment plan. For those who think someone they know needs assistance through AOT, call the Behavioral Health Call Center at (800) 704-0900 and select option #3 to speak with AOT team member.