Guidelines for Local Chapters 

When a locality, state or other group has sufficient licensed mental health professionals to form the membership of a chapter, AMHA-USA will offer assistance for chapter development.  Formation of a chapter in a geographical area does not necessarily preclude formation of other chapters in overlapping geographical territory.

Each chapter will elect a Board of Directors to develop an organization plan, to enroll and credential new members, to take enrollment dues and periodic dues to support the local chapter and AMHA-USA, and to meet on a regular basis to care for the business of the local chapter. They will also conduct general membership meetings, develop local marketing programs, develop and coordinate peer consultation groups and other programs as desired by the local chapter to meet the purposes of AMHA.

Each local chapter will develop a set of bylaws appropriate to its structure. 

Each chapter will form a member-owned, not-for-profit, independent professional organization in accordance with state laws for the purpose of marketing the practices of its members and organizing as a multi-disciplinary mental health professionals' cooperative. The local organization will be responsible to its local members and to AMHA-USA.

The chapter board of directors will create an annual budget and report annually to the local members and to AMHA-USA. 

Each chapter will regularly update the credentialing of its members and will maintain a membership list with names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, which will be available at all times to AMHA-USA.

Each chapter will appoint or employ a web administrator who will manage that chapter’s information on www.AmericanMentalHealth.com and other domains the organization establishes for marketing and communication.  

Each chapter will make payment for its website fees, chapter assessments, and other fees assessed by AMHA-USA regularly and promptly.

Each chapter’s board of directors will maintain communication on a regular basis with its members and with AMHA-USA via the e-mail, newsletter, or other means.

Each chapter will represent itself at the semi-annual meetings of AMHA-USA and share its experiences with other chapters.