PLAN of Southwest Ohio

11223 Cornell Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45242
513-821-6111

Project Title
Bridge to Sustainability
Grant Description
To provide operational support to stabilize the organization while raising other funds
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Hamilton county, OH
Award Amount
$30,000
Year Awarded
2003
Grant Duration
12 months
Results
 PLAN added 20 new clients during the grant period, bringing the total case load to 63. Services to clients were uninterrupted.

During the grant period, PLAN billed clients for all services provided. In fact, PLAN increased client fees as one of its efforts to increase revenue. The fee increase brought an additional $15,000 to the organization.

PLAN discontinued the effort since the Medicaid reimbursement rates were lower than expected and did not compensate for the staff time involved.

PLAN purchased consultant services from a development professional. In collaboration with PLAN staff and board members, he developed a formal fundraising program and provided training to PLAN board members on soliciting contributions. PLAN raised $56,562 in individual, corporate, or foundation contributions or fund- raising activities.

The PLAN program continues to operate after grant funds ended. Sustainability will remain a major focus for the organization. As successful as PLAN has been in fundraising, it is clear that PLAN of Southwest Ohio, like other PLANs across the county, needs to continue soliciting grants and contributions to sustain operations. Even though PLAN raised fees for service, they are not enough to sustain ongoing operations. With the help of professionals, PLAN developed a solid fundraising plan that is bringing in needed operational funds to the organization.

PLAN continues to steadily grow. PLAN accepts about one new client per month. This growth rate is comparable to the Cleveland PLAN that takes 10 new clients each year.

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Project Title
Cognitive Enhancement Therapy
Grant Description
To implement Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) for the treatment of the people with severe mental illnesses
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Butler, Clermont, and Hamilton Counties, OH
Award Amount
$125,250
Year Awarded
2006
Grant Duration
18 months

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Project Title
Organizational Enhancement
Grant Description
To enhance organizational operations via targeted consultation
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Hamilton county, OH
Award Amount
$16,500
Year Awarded
2006
Grant Duration
12 months
Results
The Foundation approved a grant of $16,500 on October 3, 2006 to enhance organizational operations via targeted consultation.  All grant funds were expended.

PLAN hired a consultant to work on fundraising strategies and an organizational strategic plan.  They developed a strategic plan for fiscal year 2007 - 2008. The key objectives include:

  • Increase agency staff - PLAN hired a 1.0 FTE care manager in October, 2007
  • Increase client emergency assistance funds –  funds increased by $40,000 over the last fiscal year
  • Create volunteer coordinator and volunteer business advisor positions
  • Publish a semi-annual newsletter – PLAN published a newsletter in October, 2007 and the next one is planned for March, 2008
  • Review and update agency brochure, marketing packet, and website
  • Recruit two new board members per year and provide orientation and training – PLAN added three new board members and provided orientation for them
  • Offer Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) to individuals suffering from schizophrenia that will enable recovery from mental illness and integration into community and vocational life. The Health Foundation awarded PLAN a grant to hire three part time CET therapists to begin a CET program based at Ikron. PLAN hired three CET coaches and the first CET group began in May, 2007, with nine participants. The second CET group began in November, 2007 with nine participants.

The income generated from the CET program will enable PLAN to expand the program offerings to additional participants.

PLAN developed a fundraising plan and the key objectives and activities included in this plan are:

  • Make presentations to small
    groups – PLAN made three presentations in 2007 that netted over $17,000
  • Increase face-to-face presentations to individuals regarding planned giving and bequests
  • Raise individual and family donations to a baseline of $45,000 – PLAN raised $32,932 to date
  • Raise $30,000 through corporate sponsorships by 2009 – PLAN received its first corporate donation of $3,000
  • Apply for $30,000 in foundation grants annually and pursue endowment funds – in the current fiscal year, PLAN received four grants totaling $40,000

The grantee successfully completed the objectives and financial requirements of this grant. The Health Foundation awarded PLAN a grant to implement one of its strategies, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy.

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Project Title
PLAN Business Plan Development
Grant Description
To complete a business plan for the start-up of the Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Southwest Ohio, Inc., which will provide parental surrocacy in the care and stabilization of mentally disabled adult children
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Hamilton county, OH
Award Amount
$24,000
Year Awarded
1997
Grant Duration
12 months
Results This grant help start Planned Lifetime Assistance Network’s (PLAN’s) mission is to offer peace of mind through planning and providing lifelong assistance to people with disabilities.

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Project Title
PLAN Challenge Grant
Grant Description
To provide a challenge grant for partial program funding as a bridge to sustainability for PLAN of Southwest Ohio
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties, OH
Award Amount
$44,000
Year Awarded
2003
Grant Duration
24 months
Results Planned Lifetime Assistance Network’s (PLAN’s) mission is to offer peace of mind through planning and providing lifelong assistance to people with disabilities. PLAN offers services in southwest Ohio to individuals and the families of individuals with severe mental illness, mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, physical disabilities, substance abuse problems, and degenerative medical conditions. In practice, PLAN helps families plan clinically and financially for a person’s future and serves as a family surrogate to provide individualized support both now and in the future. PLAN aims to provide some answers to the nagging question of who will care for a person with disabilities when key caregivers in their lives cannot.

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Project Title
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Cincinnati (PLAN) Start-up
Grant Description
To begin services of family estate planning, care planning, and provision of parental surrogacy in the care and stabilization of mentally disabled adult children
Focus Area
Severe Mental Illness
Region Served
Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties, OH
Award Amount
$250,000
Year Awarded
1998
Grant Duration
36 months
Results PLAN provides family estate planning, care planning, and parental surrogacy services to adults with mental disabilities.
  • Met with 61 potential clients over the course of the grant.
  • Had an active caseload of 28 clients at the end of the grant period.
  • Developed a recreational program so that clients have regular social and recreational activities.

PLAN implemented the business plan they developed during a planning grant.

  • Implemented a marketing plan to get information about the program into the community.
  • Implemented an educational plan to sponsor workshops twice a year on topics pertinent to those with disabilities and their families. PLAN held six workshops during the grant period.
  • Developed a three-year budget for the life of the grant and projected a budget for the three years after grant funds ended.
  • Developed a fee structure for services.
  • Organized campaigns to solicit individual contributions and held fundraising events.
  • Submitted five grant requests in 2001, one of which was funded.
  • Developed shared leadership in which board members, staff, and volunteers participate in decision making and take responsibility for outcomes.
  • Organized a volunteer program.
  • Provided collaborative services with other community provider organizations. For example, PLAN partnered with the Ohio Brain Injury Association to start a support group for people with mild traumatic brain injuries.

PLAN conducted annual client satisfaction surveys with family members of clients and the clients themselves. Both report a high degree of satisfaction with PLAN staff and services. Quotes from the satisfaction survey include the following:

  • "We are realistic parents who aren’t looking for miracles, but this is the first time we have felt a sense of hope." (family member)
  • "When our son faces a new problem, he feels he can confide in [PLAN staff members]. When we are out of town, he has them." (family member)
  • "I like having consistent guidance and positive role models to help me be a more independent person." (client)
  • "PLAN has really helped me and improved my quality of life in the last year." (client)

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