Chair

Matt Walker, MAT, AT, ATC, GTS
mats.cism@gmail.com

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​Committee Members

Courtney McCormick Lewis

Darryl Conway

Renee Kleszczynski

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About ATs Care

Athletic Trainers support the whole person in athletic injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Thus, athletic trainers provide emotional/spiritual support during traumatic times to athletes regardless if the trauma occurs on or off the field. ATs Care is the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)/peer-support program of the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society (MATS).  MATS ATs Care exists to support Athletic Trainers (AT) when they are affected by a personal, community, or work related critical incident or traumatic event.  

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Mission Statement                                                 

The mission of MATS ATs Care is to help develop and implement Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)/peer support programs for athletic trainers.  The MATS ATs Care program is in place to provide the following resources:

• Education for athletic trainers about CISM, post-traumatic stress and their effects both in the workplace and in one’s personal life.

• Psychological and emotional support to athletic trainers through on-scene support, debriefing intervention, post-incident defusing or one-on-one interaction.

• A network of athletic trainers trained in CISM and psychological first-aid to serve as a resource for athletic trainers, athletic directors, and clinic/hospital supervisors.  

The MATS ATs Care Team is composed of athletic trainers who have been specially trained in Crisis Intervention and Stress Management techniques and who work in conjunction with Mental Health Professionals who specialize in providing support to healthcare professionals.

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Core principles of MATS ATs Care  

• Commitment to confidentiality  

• Rapid response to appropriate requests for support.

• Emphasis on the importance of providing peer support services using athletic trainers.  

• Education and support services in keeping with ICISF guidelines.

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MATS ATs Care is able to provide and support immediate crisis intervention. MATS ATs Care is not intended to replace professional counseling or mental health services.

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Constituency Served
The MATS ATs Care team provides critical incident support services to Athletic Trainers and Athletic Training Students. The Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association (GLATA) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) ATs Care program is available for support and assistance as requested by the ATs Care Team.

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A critical incident is an event that can disrupt a person’s psychological balance, overwhelm usual coping mechanisms and have the potential to create significant human distress. This incident could be professional or personal in nature.

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If you or someone you know has responded to an emergency or experienced a traumatic event (personal or professional), please contact our MATS ATs Care team through the NATA ATs Care form link below. Submissions are anonymous. Critical incidents can cause stress that can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While it is normal to have an emotional reaction, most of us will need assistance processing these new emotions. Our team has been trained to help you deal with these challenging situations.

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ATs Care Contact | NATA Forms

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