A Brief History of PLAN of North Texas

In 1990, two parents noted that relatives of adults with mental illness assume long term roles of caregivers and case managers. These parents recognized that as relatives grew older, their capacity to continue to act in these roles diminished, yet the need to provide for continuity of care remained intact. There was no readily available alternative. Members of the Dallas Alliance for the Mentally Ill were invited to join these two parents in creating a non profit corporation that would assume the case management role for adults with mental illness. Within a year, PLAN of North Texas was incorporated and, in March of 1992, received its non profit designation from the IRS.

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In March of 1992, PLAN received its non profit designation from the IRS
Two years later, in April of 1994, PLAN of North Texas hired its first experienced psychiatric social worker, and case management services began three months later. Case management was just the beginning.
In 1995, a program to provide clients with opportunities to form friendships and to learn social interaction skills was begun. A Respite Service was started to provide temporary case management to a client when the caregiving family was required to be elsewhere.
In 1996, planning began for a housing program that ultimately culminated in the completion in 1999 of IRIS Place, a HUD funded facility comprised of 18 one bedroom apartments and a community center.
In 1997, PLAN of North Texas sponsored the Texas Attorneys Planning Guide for Representing Families of Persons with Disabilities — a comprehensive guide to legal matters that pertain to estate planning, benefits, and care of disabled family members. The Long Range Planning committee developed a training program for adults with mental illness of PLAN of North Texas member families.
An Executive Director was hired in August of 2002 to direct the staff and future development of the organization.
In 2008, PLAN began a Cognitive Enhancement Program. Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) is an evidence based practice that helps people with schizophrenia and related mental illnesses improve their processing speed, cognition (attention, memory, and problem solving), and social cognition (the awareness to interact wisely with others).

In 2008, PLAN began a Capital Campaign to raise $ 5 million to purchase an existing building and to convert it into a multi-use housing and activity facility.

PLAN of North Texas has come a long way. From its initial 25 members, it has grown to 213 member families, 13 professional members and 109 clients receiving care management services. Approximately 90 adults with mental illness participate in the Social Skills development and Education programs.