Q:  How is PLAN different from other service providers in the field of mental health care?

First, PLAN is a family-oriented organization. Thus, they have significant representation on the Board of Directors and their voice has a major impact on the way PLAN operates. PLAN strongly encourages the involvement of the family in the management and operations of PLAN of North Texas by providing volunteer opportunities for the entire family.

Second, PLAN is a private non-profit corporation created for the purpose of providing long-term planning and care exclusively to families of adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses (neurobiological brain disorders). PLAN is not funded by any state or local government or agency of government. PLAN is supported by dues, fees, donations from individuals and grants from foundations and corporations.

Third, PLAN’s focus is on providing family support and rehabilitation through therapy, social/recreational and rehabilitation/education activities for the adult with mental illness.

Fourth, PLAN provides consistency and continuity in its services. Service coordination (care management) and psychotherapy are provided as needed (and requested by the family).

Fifth, while PLAN provides medication supervision, PLAN does not provide medications, as do the public mental health clinics in Texas. Our members have access to those services from the public sector or from private psychiatrists.

Q:  What does PLAN do?

PLAN of North Texas provides long-term planning and services for adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses.

PLAN’s objective is to help the members who have a mental illness become as independent as possible. Furthermore, PLAN assists the parents or other relatives who have the primary caregiving role for the adult with mental illness to plan for the future, to a time when the primary caregiver is no longer able to fulfill that role. As the caregivers grow older, they are less able to meet the demands of caring for and guiding a person who lives with a mental illness. PLAN’s role is to help those living with a mental illness continue to live as independently as possible, in accordance with the wishes of the family.

The family’s obligation is to ensure that there are sufficient funds available to meet the future needs of the adult with mental illness. PLAN of North Texas does not have the financial resources available to make the services available. We can assist families in finding knowledgeable professionals who will advise them on how to structure their financial resources, usually through a Supplemental Needs Trust and other necessary legal documents, to pay for uninterrupted caregiving.

PLAN can provide Respite services by frequently contacting the client, while the family member is out of town or otherwise unable to provide the usual support.

PLAN’s second objective is to assist each adult with mental illness (the member) to organize his or her daily life and financial and living arrangements. Being better organized enables the member to lead a more productive, meaningful, and independent life.

PLAN’s services to the adult with mental illness may include social/recreational and rehabilitation/education activities, service coordination (care management), psychotherapy, vocational coordination, and participation in the Cognitive Enhancement Therapy program.

Q:  What is a Personal Care Plan?

In general, the Personal Care Plan will address the future needs of the adult with mental illness and the financing of the provision of services to meet those future needs.

The Personal Care Plan may have very specific objectives for the delivery of services in the future. For example: “John will receive weekly psychotherapy sessions, his therapist will accompany him to doctor appointments as requested, and he will receive assistance resolving car problems and he will receive Christmas and birthday gifts not to exceed $100 per occasion.”

Services prescribed in the Personal Care Plan are paid for by the Sponsoring Member directly, through health insurance plans, Medicare or paid from a Special Needs Trust fund. PLAN will bill as the services are provided on behalf of the client/beneficiary.

Q:  What is a Special Needs Trust?

Special Needs Trusts are developed with an attorney for a person with a disability. The trusts are designed to preserve the public benefits that the adult with mental illness is entitled to receive. The provisions of the trust detail how the trust is to operate and how the funds in the trust are to be disbursed for specific, predetermined services or expenses.

Q:  Does PLAN serve as Trustee for Special Needs Trusts?

No, this service is provided by a bank trustee, a family member or an attorney. PLAN staff will work closely with the trustee to ensure that the wishes of the person funding the trust and the needs of the beneficiary are met.

Q:  Can a trust join PLAN on behalf of a beneficiary with mental illness?

No, however, a trust can be in place and be on record as the financially responsible party. The person with the mental illness must meet with a PLAN staff member, usually the Director of Clinical Services, in order to join.

Q:  Does PLAN serve as guardian for adults with mental illness?

No, but again, PLAN staff will work closely with the guardian (as they do with family members) to insure that needs and wishes of the adult with mental illness are met.

Q:  Who should join PLAN of North Texas?

A parent, or family member, who has physical and financial responsibility for the long term care of an adult with a serious and persistent neurobiological disorder and is concerned about who will take over that role when they are no longer able to do so.

While the caregiver is the Sponsoring Member (responsible party contracting for services), the entire immediate family are considered members.

A parent, or family member, who believes that their adult relative with mental illness would benefit from the socialization and education programs or counseling offered by PLAN of North Texas should consider joining PLAN of North Texas.

Many extended family members join PLAN at the Friend level to show support for the service that PLAN provides to families living with adults with mental illnesses. They receive the PLAN Newsletter to stay informed about PLAN of North Texas activities.

Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, attorneys and trustees join PLAN as Professional Members to show their support for the quality services provided by PLAN. They, too, receive the PLAN newsletter.

Q:  How do we join PLAN?

One of PLAN’s objective is to assist the parents or other relatives who have the primary caregiving role for the adult with mental illness to plan for the future, to a time when the primary caregiver is no longer able to fulfill that role.

You may call our office to request a PLAN information packet,. One of PLAN’s staff will contact you to discuss how best to proceed.

Q:  What if my family member with a mental illness doesn’t think he/she wants PLAN services or activities?

Remember that PLAN of North Texas was created for the purpose of providing long-term planning and care to families of adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses. It is not uncommon for the family member with a mental illness to say “I don’t need that or I don’t want to go there.”

Parents or siblings often express the desire that their family member with mental illness will have social opportunities, activities and friends, but the family member is resistant and isolates him or herself. This is due to the mental illness, but the person with the illness probably also longs for friends and companionship.

Although meeting with a PLAN staff member, usually the Director of Clinical Services, is necessary prior to joining, we have found that many of the potential member’s concerns are relieved during the first interaction. PLAN is strictly a voluntary program, and knowing this, along with understanding the goals we have for all of the members, can generally relinquish hesitation. Often working with a psychotherapist and/or attending activities with a non-disabled family member can bridge the isolation barrier and begin the process of recovery for a person with a serious mental illness.

PLAN of North Texas members are fast friends and a supportive community of caregivers

Q:  How much does PLAN cost?

PLAN of North Texas Sponsoring Membership dues (for the entire immediate family and the person with a mental illness) are paid annually.

Friend level membership dues for adult siblings, aunts, uncles and friends of the family are also available and paid annually. (This is a wonderful present to give as these members will stay informed via the PLAN newsletter.)

Professional Membership dues are paid annually and also receive the newsletter.

Along with the membership dues, PLAN offers many services which are fee-based. These include psychotherapy, groups, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy, and service coordination. PLAN also bills for travel time and mileage (according to the IRS mileage rate). We are able to bill most insurance and Medicare for many of these services.

Q:  Who provides PLAN services?

PLAN’s services are provided by Texas Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Masters Social Workers (LMSW), and Texas Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) who have extensive

experience in psychiatric rehabilitation. PLAN therapists receive frequent clinical support from Dr. Michael Downing, a psychiatrist, who is a consultant to PLAN.

Q:  Does PLAN provide housing?

PLAN recognizes that suitable housing for adults with mental illness is a significant issue for most families. While PLAN does not provide housing, our social workers do assist clients and their families in finding appropriate housing.

Q. What is PLAN Homes, Inc.?

PLAN Homes is a closely affiliated but legally separate non profit corporation that owns the HUD subsidized independent living apartment housing at Iris Place which is around the corner from the PLAN offices. Iris Place is full currently and the waiting list for apartments is closed.