What is Plan of North Texas?

PLAN (Planned Living Assistance Network of North Texas, Inc) is a member of the National PLAN Alliance and is located in Dallas, Texas. PLAN of North Texas was founded by parents to provide long term support for their loved ones who live with a mental illness.   PLAN of North Texas is a non profit membership organization that provides care planning services, and educational programs to parents and their adult children who have serious and persistent neurobiological disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and manic depression.

 

What is unique about PLAN of North Texas?

The mission of PLAN of North Texas, Inc is unique because we are the only organization in the Dallas Metroplex that provides community and comprehensive support for people that live with a mental illness and their families.  At PLAN, we follow the Recovery Model which suggests that living with mental illness does not preclude you from successfully living and working in the community, enjoying an active social life, attending school, practicing your faith, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle—all while managing your own illness with the supports you may need.

Our Mission

To provide a comprehensive program for adults with mental illness that supplements family caregiving, both today and tomorrow.

 

PLAN’s Goals: For the adult with mental illness, we seek to provide a positive environment that is supportive, encouraging and consistent over time. Through socialization and education, we seek to assist that person’s integration into society to the greatest extent possible. We do this by:

  • Providing access to the highest quality of professional care available.
  • Providing opportunities for socialization in activities such as the Walking, Supper and Cooking Clubs, through the Writer’s Group, trips and celebrations.
  • Providing opportunities to develop life management skills through education in computer classes, Tai Chi, Stress Management and Re-balancing My Life programs.
  • Providing an environment that builds hope and self-esteem, helping the adult with mental illness feel more alive and like a partner in his or her recovery.
  • Providing well-trained staff who are accessible, reliable, optimistic, accepting and trustworthy.
  • Providing skilled psychotherapy to deal with ongoing and emergency situations.
  • Providing a case management support structure that handles the day to day issues created by mental illness and that possibly could aid in recovery.

For the family of the adult with mental illness, we seek to provide an environment that reduces stress and anxiety. We do this by:

  • Providing skilled professionals to work with the families in building a strong and enduring support structure, including doctors, attorneys and trustees.
  • Providing skilled professionals for crisis management.
  • Providing consistency of programs and caring over time.
  • Providing respite service to allow family members to attend to other matters with the confidence that their adult with mental illness is being cared for.
  • Providing assistance with regard to federal programs, housing, medical services, medications and including information on wills and trusts.
  • Providing solutions to problems to a community of families with similar problems.
  • Providing opportunities for families to share their concerns, to volunteer their time and to assist in managing PLAN through Committee or Board participation.

PLAN’s Values:

We share these values:

  • Every family member shares our common human needs, rights, desires and has value and potential.
  • Every family member should be treated with respect, dignity and compassion.
  • Every family member is unique and services should be provided in accordance with his or her unique strengths and needs.
  • A community of families, consumers and professionals working together as a team can dramatically improve the lives of adults with mental illness.

Expectations

General:

  • PLAN was founded by parents for families of adults with mental illnesses.
  • The primary obligation and responsibility of the family is to ensure that there are sufficient financial resources available to meet current and future needs of the adult with mental illness.

What you should expect of PLAN:

  • Provide hope and a focus on rehabilitation for your loved one.
  • Providing solutions to a community of families with problems similar to yours.
  • Professional staff working with families to build a strong and enduring support structure.
  • Skilled professionals who are accessible, reliable, positive, accepting and trustworthy.
  • Constant programs and caring over time.
  • Assistance with regard to government programs, housing, medical services, medications and information on wills and trusts.

What PLAN expects of you:

  • That you share our values and goals.
  • Active participation by the family in PLAN activities and programs.
  • Contribution of your time and talent to improving PLAN.
  • Financial contributions, in addition to dues and payment for services, to bridge the gap between revenues and expenses.


What is the National PLAN Alliance?

PLAN of  North Texas is a member of The National PLAN (Planned Lifetime Assistance Network) Alliance;  an umbrella organization for 26 PLAN organizations located in 21 states. PLAN is a care model originated by parents to provide long-term support for their loved ones with mental illness or other physical or mental disabilities. The mission of these PLAN organizations, including PLAN of North Texas, is to provide future care planning services to parents and their adult children with a disability.