A-blast
President's Message:
August 4, 2020
As we continue to navigate best practice for return to sport this coming Fall season, I am encouraged to see all of the conversations and dialogue being shared on how each of us can find the best way to continue to provide quality care to our patients. These past couple of months, your ALATA Executive Council has been hard at work looking into ways that we can better support and represent everyone in our community. This will be an ongoing process of listening to your needs but know that we hear your worries and are open to any recommendations of how we can better serve you.
The first identified gap that has been identified is the need for continued representation of all of our members. With that, we are excited to announce the formation of the ALATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC)! This committee will serve to advise our board and members on ways to better serve our community. Specifics on this committee can be found below along with the call to serve for anyone interested. Another opportunity in the works is additional virtual content and CEU opportunities! With VNATA just coming to a close and new opportunities popping up what seems to be every day, we noticed that there was a need for more information that could directly affect us here in Alabama. I am excited to announce that over the rest of the course of 2020, the ALATA, in collaboration with SEATA, will be offering virtual webinars, town halls, and panel discussions on a range of topics that are rooted in the foundation of our state-based settings and patient populations. More information on that below.
In addition to this information, below you will also find more information and feedback from your Alabama Board of Athletic Training (ABAT). As a reminder, the ALATA and the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers are two separate groups. We, the ALATA, work in collaboration with the ABAT to ensure that all of our licensed athletic training members have a good grasp how the two separate entities work to protect you as well as the public. In order to help lessen any confusion, we will be including an ABAT section of all of our Ablasts from here on out. In the event there are any questions regarding any of the provided information, contact information to the ABAT office will be provided.
As always, please let us know how your association can better serve you!
Your President,
Interested in serving the profession for our state? The ALATA is excited to announce the creation of the ALATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC). This committee comes after listening to the needs of further representation of our members. The policy and procedures of this new committee can be found below. If you are anyone you know is interested in serving on this committee, please reach out to President Platt (alatapres@gmail.com).
ALATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC) P&P
Mission
The mission of the Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC) is to serve in an advisory capacity to the ALATA Executive Council. Its aim is to identify and address issues relevant to the ethnically diverse populations to better serve the needs of our patients, as well as members of the profession. EDAC advocates sensitivity toward cultural diversity, development of cultural competence within the profession and promotion of athletic trainers as leaders in issues related to cultural competence and professional diversity within the health care professions.
Composition
This state-based committee shall be composed of ethnically diverse certified regular athletic trainers and a dually appointed chair.
Purpose
Identify and address issues relevant to ethnically diverse members. Advocate sensitivity and understanding toward ethnic and cultural diversity throughout the profession and the association.
Duties
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Create an environment conducive to the positive growth and development of a multiethnic and multicultural membership.
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Increase the body of knowledge and disseminate information on key health care issues and conditions that affect physically active, ethnically diverse individuals (exertional sickling, lactose intolerance, at risk populations, Blount's Disease and hypertension).
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Advocate for ethnically diverse athletic training students through student mentoring and establishing grants and scholarships.
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Encourage continually open-dialogue, communication between the membership and the ALATA, SEATA, and the NATA.
Alabama is also in need for a representative to serve on SEATA’s EDAC. If you are anyone you know is interested in serving in this role, please reach out to President Platt (alatapres@gmail.com).
In order to continue to educate on the difference the ALATA and the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers (ABAT), we will be including a permanent ABAT section of our monthly A-blasts. The ALATA thanks the continued support and partnership with the ABAT and looks forward to growing the relationship.
FAQs:
What is the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers (ABAT)?
ABAT was formed in 1993 as an agency of the state of Alabama through the passing of our state’s title (practice) act; the regulation in which the Board functions, as well. The Board was created to safeguard the public from incompetent, unprofessional, and unlawful practice of athletic training through licensing and renewal. They are responsible for regulation of athletic trainers within the state through licensure and standards as well as establishing standards of licensure in the practice of athletic training.
What is the difference between the ALATA and ABAT?
The Alabama Athletic Trainers’ Association (ALATA) is the professional membership organization for all athletic training professionals and students in Alabama. The ABAT is an agency of the state that functions as a safeguard for the public to protect against the incompetent, unprofessional, and unlawful practice of athletic training through licensing and renewal. The two organizations are partners and work in collaboration with each other, but one does not constitute the other.
If I am licensed in the state of Alabama does that mean I am a member of the ALATA?
No. In order to practice athletic training in Alabama, you must be complete all required documentation in order to be licensed (please visit http://www.athletictrainers.alabama.gov/). In order to be a member of the ALATA you must either be a member of the NATA (https://www.nata.org/membership/about-membership/join-or-renew) or be an ALATA member only (https://www.alathletictrainers.org/). Being a licensee in the state does not allow ALATA membership and being a member of the ALATA does not allow licensure.
Who do I contact if I need information regarding my licensure, need documentation of being licensed in the state, have questions regarding about licensure, or want to learn more about the ABAT?
All information regarding the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers, getting documentation of your AL licensure, or licensure applications and renewals can be found on the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers website http://www.athletictrainers.alabama.gov/.
The ALATA is excited to announce that over the rest of the course of 2020, the ALATA, in collaboration with SEATA, will be offering virtual education on a range of topics that are rooted in the foundation of our state-based settings and patient populations. These events will come in to form of virtual webinars for CEUs, townhalls, and roundtables.
We are excited to announce that our first will be a roundtable discussing the latest information on COVID-19 and the secondary school setting. Panel members will include:
Jake Jordan - Mountain Brook
Bryce Ciancio - Central Phenix City
Ciara Taylor - Oak Mountain
Heath Blackmon - Bessemer City
Daniel Clark - James Clemens
Dave Bush - ALATA Secondary School Committee (Chair)
Moderator: Kyle Southall - ALATA Secretary
This event will be Thursday, August 6th at 7:00 pm. The roundtable is free to attend but registration is required. To register, click HERE or go to https://www.alathletictrainers.org/covid-round-table.
CAATE: Coronavirus Updates and FAQs
Service Opportunities:
Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers:
COVID-19 Resources:
Upcoming ALATA Event and CEU Opportunities:
