PLAN of Central Texas recently celebrated its founders with a luncheon/fundraiser.  Among the main organizations cited that had helped PLAN get off the ground were NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and ATCMHMR.

PLAN is a non-profit organization that helps adults with mental illness.  Although the focus is on the consumer, PLAN also has some services for families.

The care plan for the client is driven by that consumer and the involved family member(s).  That is, PLAN takes into consideration the wishes of the family members, as well as those of the client, for the care PLAN provides to its client. The client/consumer is an integral part of the designing of their care plan.

The care plan is a contract between PLAN, the client, and the family member.  The plan documents the types of services needed or wanted by the client and family.  The care plan also states what services PLAN is able to provide within the needs/wants of the client and family.  The care plan may also list other services PLAN can provide in the future, if so desired by the client or family.

The services PLAN provides include: in-home (of client) help with activities of daily living -- from hygiene to household chores to tasks such as balancing budgets, paying bills, and living within one's means.  Services can include help with grocery shopping, cooking, and washing dishes.  PLAN's services cover help with finding a job to help with obtaining various benefits -- such as SSDI, SSI, QMB, Medicare/Medicaid, Food Stamps, Drug Plans (Medicare D, PAP, etc.), Metro/Access (STS), Disability Fare Card (CapMetro buses), etc.  If desired, PLAN can help a client who wants to learn how to get around by bus and/or Metro/Access. PLAN is very aware that one of the many issues clients have is transportation.

To that end, PLAN Care Managers (the people who go to the client's home) can, during their visit with a client, take the client to a doctor's appointment, grocery shopping, to the pharmacy, or to any other important places the client may need to go.  Of course, Care Managers can help clients with setting up their doctors' or benefits' appointments.

It's important to note that PLAN is not maid or taxi service; rather it is help with these various activities, in the hopes that the client will learn to do these things by him/herself.  The amount of help depends on the agreed-to care plan and also, somewhat, on the level of disability of the client.

There are also fun activities that PLAN sponsors: consumer/peer monthly socials, summer social mixers for clients, families, board, and staff, and quarterly socials for clients, families, board, and staff.  I would even say that most of our annual meetings. are fun!  Our fundraisers have been wonderful times, too!

Though PLAN is a non-profit, its services are provided for a fee.  That is, PLAN is a private fee-for-service organization.  PLAN of Central Texas is still a very young organization and growing -- PLAN would like to provide services to anyone, regardless of income, in the near future.  We are always working on getting grants to help us towards this end.  PLAN has had and hopes to continue having grants so we can provide services to our most needy clients.

I, myself, am a consumer board member of PLAN.  Through the board and socials, I've made some very good friends.  PLAN helped me to get started taking classes in Peer Support.  Through these classes (mostly offered by other organizations), I've gained a lot of self-confidence/esteem.  Since January '08, I've been doing some volunteer work at ASH with Rod Pfiester in Peer Support.  This has been very fulfilling!  I also do a teeny bit of paid work for PLAN -- some of the calling for socials.  Since taking a class that PLAN (with a grant) paid for, I've become a Certified Peer Specialist (thanks, also, to DBSA).

If interested in learning more about PLAN, our website (you are here) is newly updated.

You can reach us at (512) 851-0901.  We're located on the 4th floor of the Switchboard Building (#781) on the ASH grounds (4110 Guadalupe St./Austin, TX  78751).  Drop by sometime (We're in Room 410)!