FAQs about membership



















Membership Renewal FAQs
What is the renewal cycle for members?
An AAMFT member can add WAMFT at any point in their renewal cycle by going to www.aamft.org. Sign in and hover over "Engage and Network", click on "Geographical Engagement Programs", Click on "W", Click on "Join Now". Add Washington to cart and check out. Members will have immediate WAMFT membership. It will become due again upon the next renewal of AAMFT membership.


Are members renewing their AAMFT membership automatically renewing their membership in WAMFT?
Each year members MUST opt in to the Washington engagement program (WAMFT). AAMFT is no longer automatically filling in our state association on the renewal invoice, so please remember to scroll down to add Washington!


If I am an AAMFT member and didn’t “opt in” on my renewal or initial membership application but want to add in WAMFT membership mid-cycle, how can I do so?
An AAMFT member can add WAMFT at any point in their renewal cycle by going to www.aamft.org. Sign in and hover over "Engage and Network", click on "Geographical Engagement Programs". Click on "W". Click on "Join Now". Add Washington to cart and check out. Members will have immediate WAMFT membership. It will become due again upon the next renewal of AAMFT membership.


Is our independent affiliate listed on the AAMFT renewal notice/bill?
If a member has previously opted in to WAMFT (our local AAMFT engagement program referred to as in independent affiliate) the checkbox for the WAMFT online renewal application will be automatically filled in. If members chose to now “opt out” by unchecking the box, WAMFT membership will be removed from their bill. They can also elect to add or delete any other engagement programs at this time. If a member has not opted in before, WAMFT (Washington independent affiliate) is listed as an option for them to select, along with all the other engagement programs.


What is the difference between an independent affiliate, an engagement program, a division, and WAMFT?
When the AAMFT bylaws changed to make divisional membership optional, the language changed to reflect the different structural options available to each division.

Engagement Program: This term applies to a variety of structural groups. Engagement Programs are divided into Geographical programs and Topical programs. Geographical engagement programs in many ways are similar to what used to be called a division. They are called either Independent Affiliates or Interest Networks. Each has a unique composition and relationship with AAMFT. Topical engagement programs are called topical Interest Networks. AAMFT members are invited, but not required, to join one or more Engagement Programs.

Interest Network: This is one of the two governance structures that geographical areas can create to meet local advocacy, programming, and networking/educational needs of members. An Interest Network can also be structured around topics members in which members have common interests. Members can create and/or join Interest Networks. For example, if a group of members want to form an interest network to share a common interest in eating disorders or working with military families, they can work with AAMFT to form a group.

Independent Affiliate: This is the second of two governance structures that geographical areas can create. This structure is still under the umbrella of AAMFT but allows states and provinces to remain incorporated and function similar to the old divisions. WAMFT is an Independent Affiliate.

In summary, WAMFT is an engagement program of AAMFT, currently structured as geographic independent affiliate. Our name is the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT).


If I see Washington independent affiliate or Washington Engagement Program on my renewal invoice, is that the same thing as WAMFT?
YES!


Why do members opt-in to WAMFT when they renew their AAMFT membership?
WAMFT memberships offers local benefits not available to members only renewing with AAMFT.
Click here for a full list of benefits.


What are the membership fees for WAMFT?
WAMFT offers the same membership categories as AAMFT. For more information about the membership categories, online applications, and AAMFT member benefits click on the following membership options. WAMFT fees are below and in addition to AAMFT fees:

Clinical Fellow ($100)
Pre-Clinical Fellow ($30)
Student ($10)
Allied($100)
Pre-Allied ($30)
Affiliate($25)


Do members have to be a member of AAMFT to be able to opt-in to WAMFT?
YES!


If I am a member of AAMFT and did not renew my WAMFT membership, can I still join WAMFT?
Yes. At any time during the year you may go to www.aamft.org/engage and scroll down to Washington. Select and go to check out.


If members have questions about membership who do they contact?
Members can contact AAMFT membership services at 703-838-9808. AAMFT office hours are Monday-Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Eastern to speak to membership, or WAMFT at wamft@wamft.org.