2005- 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

Bahá'í Association of Mental Health Professionals, Inc.

Board of Directors:

Dr. James Bartee, Dr. Larry McCullough, Dr. Elena Mustakova-Possardt, Ms. Mary K. Radpour, Mr. Phillipe Copeland, Ms. Heidi Wood

The Bahá'í Association of Mental Health Professionals (BAMHP) is a non-profit, Bahá'í-inspired organization designed to serve the intellectual, social and spiritual needs of practitioners, researchers and theoreticians who desire to apply the insights contained in the Bahá'í writings to the mental health professions. It is incorporated in the State of Illinois as a non-profit corporation, and the National Spiritual Assembly serves as its “sole member” with the Board of Directors serving at its appointment.

Because the Bahá’í Association of Mental Health Professionals holds its annual meeting in the fall of each year, this report reviews the accomplishments in the years 2005-2006. BAMHP accomplished the agenda set for itself by its Board:

a) Maintenance of the membership of approximately 70 mental health professionals;

b) The holding of an annual conference at Green Acre Bahá’í school, on the theme of “The Psychology of Peace: Society and the Transcendent Self,” The purpose of this year’s conference was to bring together clinicians, artists and scholars to explore the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of peace. This year, we undertook the conference in harmony with the ongoing activities of Green Acre Bahá’í School that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, which ended the Russo-Japanese War. Presenters included: Anne Perry, Peter Murphy (poet in residence), Eranda Jayawickreme, Kim Kelsey, Beth Bowen, Elena Mustakova-Possardt, Mary K Radpour, Robert Atkinson, Joan Haskell, Phillipe Copeland and James Bartee;

c) The nomination of members to the BAMHP Board at the annual meeting to replace the two members, one whose term office had ended and another who could no longer serve due to illness. This year the new nominations were for Dr. Elena Mustakova-Possardt and Mr. Phillipe Copeland;

d) Inviting the participation of non-Bahá’í presenters and attendees at the conference, through the invitation of Eranda Jayawickreme;

e) Maintenance of the BAMHP website at www.bamhp.org with conference reports, abstracts of presentations, presentation papers; statement of purpose and various other useful documents;

f) Auditing of the BAMHP books;

g) Planning and promotion of the upcoming conference on the theme: “Mental Health and Moral Development,” to be held at Louhelen Bahá’í School to be held September 21-24th;

h) Continuing promotion of the booklet, “Some Guidance for Spiritual Assemblies Regarding Mental Illness and Its Treatment” through the website.

Several new initiatives were also begun:

a) A memorial scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Adrienne Stengal a long time member of the Board of Directors who passed away this year is being established that will support participation of minority students in the annual BAMHP Conference;

b) The dedication in memoriam of the next annual conference to Dr. William Hatcher, another founding member of BAMHP and former Board Member who passed away this year;

c) Plans are underway for continuing to collaborate with BNASAA in the development of materials and initiatives which would specifically assist young people in arenas of sexuality;

d) Plans are underway to develop a guide for Local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals regarding moral development and Bahá’í identity similar to the booklet, "Some Guidance for Spiritual Assemblies Regarding Mental Illness and Its Treatment."

Among the remaining unaccomplished challenges which must engage the Board are the following goals articulated in previous years:

a) Greater participation of minorities in the work of BAMHP;

b) Obtaining professional continuing education credits for attendance at the BAMHP conference;

c) Stimulating fuller participation of non-Bahá’ís in BAMHP conferences and initiatives.

Respectfully submitted,

Phillipe Copeland, Chairperson

Baha’i Association of Mental Health Professionals