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In Person

Beyond the Game: The Baseball Assistance Team’s (B.A.T.) Approach to Employee Assistance

Erik Nilsen
Leonel Bejaran
Mariana Rosado
Michelle Romanelli
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Information

Date & Time

Location

Description

This presentation will explore the work of the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) and its peer-based approach to supporting members of the baseball community experiencing personal, financial, and behavioral health challenges. Using real-world examples and lived experience, the presentation will examine career transition and changes in identity, stigma and barriers to seeking help, financial stress, confidentiality and trust, and strategies for engaging individuals who may be reluctant to accept assistance. Lessons from B.A.T.’s model will be connected to the work of Employee Assistance and behavioral health professionals.

Educational Goal

The educational goal of this workshop is to provide a clear understanding of the Baseball Assistance Team's mission, eligibility requirements, and grant programs designed to support former baseball community members facing financial, medical, or personal hardship. It will emphasize how confidential support networks can effectively assist individuals navigating sudden life challenges.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Identify at least three barriers that may prevent individuals from seeking or accepting assistance, including stigma, pride, concerns about confidentiality, and changes in identity.

  • Describe how career transitions, financial stress, and loss of professional identity can affect an individual’s behavioral health and willingness to seek support.

  • Name at least two engagement and outreach strategies that Employee Assistance and behavioral health professionals can use to build trust and connect reluctant individuals with appropriate resources and longer-term support.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Erik Nilsen
Erik Nilsen is a seasoned executive in the sports industry, currently serving as Vice President and Executive Director of the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) at Major League Baseball (MLB). With over 20 years of experience at MLB, Erik has held various leadership roles, including Director and Executive Director of B.A.T., where he has been instrumental in supporting members of the baseball family in need. Prior to his tenure at MLB, Erik contributed his expertise as a Marketing & Content Strategist at Ocupop and worked in group sales for the New York Mets, where he excelled in developing successful theme days and retaining long-term ticket accounts. Erik's career began with internships and sales roles, gaining valuable experience with organizations like the Hudson Valley Renegades and Positive Impact. Erik holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from York College of Pennsylvania and attended SUNY New Paltz, where he was an active member with both baseball teams. He is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) and has been a Board Member for EAPA since 2024. He also holds a Sports Impact Leadership Certificate from Johns Hopkins University. Erik resides in Rockville Centre, NY, with his wife Allison and their two children, Helena and Chase.
Leonel Bejaran
Mariana Rosado
Michelle Romanelli

Financially Sponsored By

  • EAPA NYC Chapter