The Islamic Social Services Association-USA (ISSA-USA) is a long standing national non-profit organization founded in the Virginia/ Washington DC area and headquartered in Arizona promoting Muslim friendly mental health and social services to advance social equity and healthy communities. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate 25 trailblazing years of ISSA-USA, a pioneer in human services and mental health advocacy!
Our Mission
The mission of ISSA-USA is to build a network of professional, paraprofessional and volunteer social service and mental health providers; and to enhance their capacity through education, training, technical assistance, research, mentorship and collaboration.
Our Board of Directors
Dr. Aneesah Nadir • President, Dr. Mohamed Hoque • Vice President Shaema Imam • Secretary, Anjum Ali • Director, Zarinah Nadir • Director
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Guests, Friends, Summit Delegates
In the spirit of peace, AsSalaamuAlaikum !
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the Islamic Social Services Association’s 25th Anniversary! This occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the past, take stock of the current state of mental health, family and social services as it relates to Muslims and the overall society.
Twenty-five years ago, a small yet dedicated group of professionals, imams, volunteers and community leaders met at a conference in Herndon, Virginia. It was then that we decided we needed to elevate the Muslim community’s knowledge and understanding of mental health, behavioral health, marriage, family and social service issues. Back then there was no internet and social media. Most in our community didn’t know what social work was. Most didn’t believe our community experienced domestic abuse, substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, trauma, suicide, homelessness, hunger, or the challenges of incarceration and reentry in the United States and Canada. We were focused on building mosques, halal markets, private education spaces for our young school age children and protecting our community from Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism. We were not yet ready to acknowledge the many social issues our youth and families were already experiencing.
Conversely, our colleagues in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy were uninformed about Muslim traditions. They had little awareness of the need for culturally and spiritually sensitive practice with the growing Muslim community twenty-five years ago. There was little in the research literature. However, as our colleagues met more and more Muslims in their agencies, hospitals, schools and various settings the need to get to know Muslim traditions and best practices increased. Thankfully, the Islamic Social Services Association was there to help lead the way.
Gradually, the Muslim community’s awareness of the real-life stories of families they pray next to and worship with has grown. Slowly recognition of the role stigma in society and in our own community plays has increased. Imams have started to attend trainings on domestic violence, suicide among our youth, and mental health first aid. Today, we have Muslims who are liscened therapists and family lawyers. We are slowly recognizing the need for social services and case management services connected to the mosque and Islamic schools.
Most exciting is the ripple effect from our initial efforts as Muslim Mental Health agencies, family service organizations, and research conferences have emerged. And today we meet the next generation of Muslims entering the once unheard professions of social work, counseling, psychology and marriage and family therapy! While there still aren’t enough Muslims in these professions, the number of Muslim practitioners is growing.
Among our colleagues of other faiths there is also a growing recognition of the need for culturally sensitive training and education to more effectively serve the underserved Muslim community with its special concerns as well as its common human needs.
This year we held our first Marriage Summit with delegates representing diverse segments of the community including including imams, community leaders, singles, parents and mental health professionals, from throughout the U.S. and Canada. This was an
opportunity for us to share current research, lived and practice experience as we consider strategies to improve our marriages and families over the next twenty-five years.
After a quarter century of Islamic Social Services so much has happened to move the needle from where we were in 1999 to today. However, we recognize there is still so much more that needs to be done. As the 2024 elections comes to a close the increased racism, sexism, Islamophobia, incivility, trauma, unresolved grief and unjust loss of so many innocents here and abroad is a threat to the mental health and well-being of our families and community.
We look forward to greater emphasis on proactive strategies, prevention methods, and research on best practices. We look forward to continued growth and collaboration with our allies, partners, imams, faith leaders, and policy makers to end the stigma, build communities of belonging and become true architects of change.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Aneesah Nadir
President, ISSA-USA
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
Community Partner
Ali Ardekani • Half Our Deen
Lisa Groom • Tempe Police Department
Volunteer Service
Archie Aquino, Zarinah Nadir
Imam and
Community Leadership
Imam Qasim Amin Nathari
Dr Cheryl El Amin, Advancement of Professional Development and Research
Peaceful Families Project
Dr Maryam Funches, Excellence in Service, Next Generation
Aimen Bacha, Daymee Hissu, Grysell Fabaro
GALA PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Aimen Bacha • Master of Ceremonies
Anjum Ali • Mistress of Ceremonies
Opening Dua
Native American Land Acknowledgement
In Memory • Dr Maryam Funches, Dr Cheryl El Amin, Imam Abdullah El Amin, Irene McConachy
Welcome ASU Muslim Students Association
ISSA Canada’s President Reflects • Shahina Siddiqui
ISSA-USA President’s Message • Dr. Aneesah Nadir
Introduction of ISSA Board Members and Planning Committee
Proclamation • Berdetta Hodges, Council Member, City of Tempe
A word from AMANA Mutual • Ahmad Elmahi
Poetic Message • Rashaad Thomas
DINNER
Roll Call
Keynote Speaker • Imam Adeyinka Mendes
Introduction of Honorees
Stories From a Matchmaker • Ali Ardekani, Baba Ali
Acknowledgements, Special Gift, Reveal • Thank you to our Guests, Delegates, Sponsors
Closing Dua
ASU Muslim Students Association
The Center for the Study of Race and Democracy
Arizona Muslim Alliance
SILVER
• Amana Mutual Funds
• Kareem Education Consulting Services, LLC
• Before the Nikah Institute
• Half Our Deen
BRONZE
• Dsquared Homes for the Homeless
• Islam in America
• Muslim Women in Business
• Peaceful Families Project
• Rabia Khan
• Sexual Health for Muslims
• Unheard Design
• Zarinah El Amin
• Zarinah Nadir
TABLE SPONSORS
• Islamic Community Center of Tempe
• Muslim Mental Health Conference
• Nawal Mohamed, Venture Real Estate & Investment
Years
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PLANNING COMMITTEE
Preparing for a Healthy Marriage is one of the most important jobs we can have, yet most people spend more time planning for the wedding than they spend on this lifelong commitment!
• How do you know if you’re ready for marriage and if you’re both compatible?
• What do you bring to the table?
• What do you want in your spouse?
• What is your vision for your future family?
• What legal questions should be considered in preparation for marriage?
• How can communication in preparation for marriage be improved?
• And what about extended family and in-laws?
These are just a few of the questions we address in Dr. Aneesah Nadir’s, Before the Nikah® Marriage Preparation
15-POINT PLAN FOR INVESTING IN SOCIAL SERVICES IN AMERICA
Focus with Secular and Other-Faith Providers
1. Educating and training secular and other faith providers about Islamic beliefs and traditions.
2. Educating and training secular and other faith providers about best practices with Muslims of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
3. Informing policy makers of the need for Islamic sensitivity in the secular and other faith social service system.
4. Providing opportunities for secular and other faith providers to meet Muslims and get to know imams, key leaders, and professionals in the community.
5. Developing opportunities for secular and other faith providers and Muslim community leaders to network, build partnerships and strategic alliances in order to provide effective, quality services to Muslims and their family members living in the United States.
Focus with Muslim community members, imams, leaders, students and professionals
6. Educating Muslims about social services, mental health, family and marriage, domestic violence and other social issues facing American Muslims.
7. Educating Muslims about the types of professions that assist in addressing social service, marriage and family, mental health, and behavioral health concerns.
8. Encouraging and mentoring Muslims to consider and enroll in programs to obtain professional education and training in human service careers.
9. Educating Muslim professionals about providing human service provision and counseling founded in Islamic principles and practice.
10. Educating, training, providing technical assistance to Muslim groups in local communities that want to begin or further develop a committee within the organizational structure of the masjid or Islamic Center, a stand alone agency or a set of programs that addresses the needs facing their local communities.
11. Providing opportunities for Muslims to meet, network, and develop partnerships with secular and other faith providers to address the needs facing their local communities.
Developing Cultural Awareness and Appreciation among Muslims
12. Providing education and opportunities for Muslims of diverse cultural and socio economic backgrounds living in the United States to get to know one another.
13. Encouraging opportunities for the development of awareness and sensitivity among various groups of Muslims living in the United States about the experiences and challenges we all are facing together as Muslims in America, and about the need to work together.
Promote Qualitative, Quantitative Research and Evidence Based Practice
14. Providing support, technical assistance and leadership in the study of human service issues facing American Muslims. Promoting the engagement in evidence based participatory action research and other research methods suited to capture the needs and experiences of American Muslims as well as best practices and model approaches.
Improving Coordination, Collection and Distribution of Zakat/Sadaqa
15. Providing technical assistance and support for local communities to develop a coordinated and welladministered zakat and sadaqa collection and distribution system in their local communities.
10 HACKS FOR A #WINNING MARRIAGE
CELEBRITY MATCH GAME
Match the celebrity with their condition
Celebrities are opening up about their struggles with mental
See if you can match all 8 celebrities with their illness.
Ryan Reynolds
Chrissy Teigen
Demi Lovato
Olivia Munn
Zayn Malik
Halle Berry Arianna Grande
KNOW YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Match the definitions to the conditions
CONDITIONS
Anorexia Nervosa
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality
Social Anxiety
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Conduct Disorder
DEFINITIONS
Bipolar
Binge-Eating
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Antisocial Personality Condition
Oppositional Defiant
1. This is characterized by a long-standing disregard for rules, social norms, and the rights of others. People with this disorder typically begin displaying symptoms during childhood, have difficulty feeling empathy for others, and lack remorse for their destructive behaviors.
2. This is a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, inflexibility, and mental and interpersonal control.
3. This is a condition diagnosed in children and adolescents under the age of 18 who regularly violate social norms and the rights of others. Children with this disorder display aggression toward people and animals, destroy property, steal and deceive, and violate other rules and laws. These behaviors result in significant problems in a child’s academic, work, or social functioning.
4. This begins prior to the age of 18 and is characterized by defiance, irritability, anger, aggression, and vindictiveness. While all kids behave defiantly sometimes, kids with this refuse to comply with adult requests almost all the time and engage in behaviors to deliberately annoy others.
5. This involves episodes where the individual consumes an unusually large amount of over the course of a couple hours. Not only do people overeat, however, they also feel as if they have no control over their eating. Episodes are sometimes triggered by certain emotions such as feeling happy or anxious, by boredom or following stressful events.
6. This is characterized by restricted food consumption that leads to weight loss and a very low body weight. Those who experience this disorder also have a preoccupation and fear of gaining weight as well as a distorted view of their own appearance and behavior.
7. This can be developed after an individual has experienced a stressful life event. Symptoms include episodes of reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoiding things that remind the individual about the event, feeling on edge, and having negative thoughts. Nightmares, flashbacks, bursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, exaggerated
startle response, and difficulty remembering aspects of the event are just a few possible symptoms that people with might experience.
8. This is a fairly common psychological disorder that involves an irrational fear of being watched or judged. This disorder can have a major impact on an individual’s life and make it difficult to function at school, work, and other social settings.
9. This is characterized by shifts in mood as well as changes in activity and energy levels. The disorder often involves experiencing shifts between elevated moods and periods of depression. Such elevated moods can be pronounced and are referred to either as mania or hypomania.
10. This is characterized by a persistent pattern of hyperactivity-impulsivity and/or inattention that interferes with functioning and presents itself in two or more settings such as at home, work, school, and social situations. The symptoms must have been present prior to the age of 12 and that these symptoms must have a negative impact on social, occupational, or academic functioning.
Introducing Positive Discipline in the Muslim Family
A resource for families and professionals.
Parenting is prevention. Prevention is better than a cure. Let’s go back to the basics. It all starts at home.
Video series available at www.gumroad.com/sakina Read
The full book is available on Amazon in print and Kindle format
Listen Podcasts available at: www.positivedisciplinemuslimhome.com Watch
Strong Family For A Strong Community Be There. Connect. Encourage. Love. Sponsored by www.sakinacounseling.com
Studies show that authoritative parenting is a major protective factor against kids’ involvement in drugs, violence, and delinquency. Authoritative parenting is associated with kids scoring higher on measures of self-reliance, emotional selfregulation, sense of mastery and competence, and overall better psychological health.
