All across the country, hundreds of families care for relatives with a mental illness or other lifelong disabilities. Every day, they do things together as families: go to work, prepare meals, go shopping, plan a birthday, and plan for retirement. But every day, the primary Caregivers-parents, a sibling, an aunt or uncle-may wonder: What will happen to my loved one when I can no longer give them a family life and all the security it provides?

Today, many of these families have connected with a PLAN program. PLAN-or Planned Lifetime Assistance Network-was founded to assist families in planning for the future of relatives with a mental illness or other lifelong disabilities. PLAN brings into focus the issues that are important now and that will remain important over an individual's lifetime: housing, meaningful work, financial resources, social activities, proper nutrition, enjoyable pastimes, and reliable health care. By helping families develop a Plan for the future, PLAN enables families to carryon the circle of care, so that the quality of life their loved ones enjoy now continues into the future.