Highlights & History

the Well Community was created in January 2002.  Joel Pulis, a former associate pastor at Cliff Temple Baptist Church, a historic inner-city congregation, conceived and founded the Well.  He became aware of a high concentration of unlicensed boarding homes serving adults with severe mental illness.  Further research discovered that the needs of this population was largely underserved.  Therefore, a vision began to coalesce of a relational program of outreach and support. 

Last year, the programs of the Well provided assistance to over 450 residents of Dallas (2009).  These services are primarily delivered through our weekday, Community Life Center (“CLC”).  Open Monday through Thursday (8am-3pm), the CLC offers a restorative environment for people who have had their lives drastically disturbed by mental illness and need the support of others in moving toward health.  Our Community Members (i.e., “clients”) co-administer the program with members and staff working together to provide and/or access psychiatric, employment, housing, substance abuse, entitlement, and advocacy services. 

the Well has an annual operating budget of $430,000.  The organization is staffed by four full-time and two part-time employees and is governed by a 6-member board of directors.  Jeff Alsup is the current Executive Director.  He joined the organization in 2010, having previously worked as a assistant director of a ministry that serves low-income families and as a CFO/partner of a local advertising agency. 

Over the years, the Well’s excellence has been highlighted by many organizations in the community.  Mental Health America of Greater Dallas and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have honored the Well’s staff with awards of service to the Dallas community.  Other recognitions have come from Baylor University, Texas Baptists, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Texas National Guard. 

In 2008, the Well was a finalist for the Mission Excellence award of the Center for Nonprofit Management.  The programs have been featured in numerous publications and television programs, including People magazine, The Dallas Morning News, and WFAA Channel 8.