CARE Court has been fully implemented in the County of Monterey since December 2024. Since then, the County has seen steady growth in participation—our CARE caseload has doubled since October 2025—and our petition rate of 7.3 per 100,000 residents exceeds the statewide average of 6.2. These outcomes reflect proactive outreach and strong partnerships across local systems. The County of Monterey did not see a surge in family‑filed petitions when CARE Court launched. This is because most families already feel well‑supported by the County’s strong voluntary Behavioral Health services. Voluntary engagement remains the gold standard for sustainable recovery, and the CARE Act itself prioritizes voluntary treatment whenever possible. The County maintains close coordination among Behavioral Health, the Superior Court, County Counsel, the Public Defender, and the Public Guardian regarding CARE Court process. This collaboration ensures that each individual receives care in the...
Your SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is caring for a baby orphaned skunk. The skunk is about four and a half weeks old. She weighs just 256 grams, around the size and weight of a large russet potato. She came to the SPCA Wildlife Center after community members saw her alone near a business park for a few days and became concerned. At just 4 weeks old, she is too young to survive away from her mother. Skunks are normally weaned at 2 months old and leave their mother in the fall months. She is currently in a safe, warm indoor incubator while she grows. She eats a custard made from mixing eggs with a specialized formula for baby skunks. Once she is old enough, the SPCA Wildlife Center will release her back into the wild near where she was found. “Thank you to our community for contacting us when they see a wild animal in need and for supporting all our rescues,” says Ciera Duits-Cavanaugh, SPCA Wildlife Center Supervisor. “Your ...