This webinar was recorded to help community members understand DRC's recent Tulare County Settlement Agreement, including its meaning, upcoming steps in the implementation process, and opportunities for stakeholder engagement. We feature insights from lead attorneys involved in the case, aiming to foster transparency, build trust, and empower community participation in shaping the path forward.

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About the webinar:

Watch this recorded webinar for an important conversation about the groundbreaking Tulare County Settlement Agreement, which will expand the County’s mental health services and prevent unnecessary institutionalization and incarceration.

The settlement marks the culmination of a multi-year investigation by DRC, finding that the county inappropriately relied on law enforcement to respond to youth and adults experiencing mental health crises. As a result, the County’s arrest rates were more than double the statewide average and were even higher for communities of color.

The County of Tulare is home to nearly 480,000 people and is located in California’s Central Valley, which is largely rural and agricultural. Its population is 67% Latine with a growing Black/African American population and Indigenous populations.

This webinar: 

• Breaks down the settlement agreement; 
• Outlines next steps in implementation; 
• Highlights ways you can stay involved;  

Frequently Asked Questions about Disability Rights California & Tulare County Settlement Agreement

Q: What is this Settlement Agreement about?

In 2021, DRC began investigating Tulare County’s mental health system. We found that people experiencing mental health crises were often institutionalized or incarcerated instead of receiving community-based mental health services. Mobile crisis teams were rarely deployed in community settings, and law enforcement responded to most mental health calls, leading to high rates of involuntary holds and arrests, especially among communities of color.

Q: What does the Settlement Agreement require Tulare County to do?

The goal of the Settlement Agreement is to ensure people living with mental health disabilities receive services in the community whenever possible and minimize involvement with the criminal legal system. Tulare County Behavioral Health must:

1. Expand mobile crisis teams that respond without law enforcement involvement.
2. Provide 24/7 community-based crisis services that are age-appropriate, person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and gender-affirming.
3. Coordinate with school districts to ensure children and youth receive behavioral health services instead of law enforcement responses.
4. Establish a Peer Respite Home, operated by a peer-led organization, for voluntary short-term support during mental health crises.
5. 5. Connect individuals to Full-Service Partnerships (FSPs), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), and youth services to support therapy, housing, employment, and education.
6. Implement person-centered discharge planning, including through patient feedback surveys.
7. Create new permanent supportive housing units and apply for additional housing vouchers.
8. Hold regular stakeholder meetings with underserved communities to identify gaps and improve culturally responsive services.
9. Contract with community-based providers to provide culturally responsive behavioral health services to ensure equal access to services for communities of color.

Q: Who will monitor compliance?

An independent behavioral health expert will review and report on Tulare County’s implementation of the settlement terms for the next three years.

Q: How long will the settlement last?

The settlement agreement will last approximately three years.

Q: Who can I contact for more information?

If you have questions about the settlement agreement or would like to share your Tulare County disability related experiences with us, please call the DRC intake line at 1-800-776-5746 or TTY at 1-800-719-5798 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM or email us at tularecounty.settlementagreement@disabilityrightsca.org.

Resources:

• Press Release: Read more about the settlement
• Settlement Agreement: Read more about the settlement agreement by DRC and Tulare County
  In February 2025, Disability Rights California (DRC) reached a Settlement Agreement with Tulare County to expand community-based mental health services and reduce unnecessary institutionalization and incarceration.

Speakers:

Michelle Kotval, Senior Attorney, Mental Health Practice Group

Sarah Gregory, Litigation Counsel, Mental Health Practice Group

Oscar Lopez, Managing Attorney, Mental Health Practice Group