What AMHA does and what AMHA should do: results from the 1985 affiliate poll

We obtained opinions about the services and programs of the Association of Mental Health Administrators from a sample of 242 affiliates. The study showed that the most important reasons for joining the association were professional development, education, and to support the profession. Also important was the desire for interaction with other executives. Apart from individual benefits, affiliates endorsed the standard setting functions of the association: setting educational standards, creating a certification credential, disseminating new ideas and, to a lesser extent, conducting research. Finally, AMHA affiliates believe the association should act as a spokesperson to the government. In the future, AMHA's greatest area of growth will be to create a favorable public opinion.