ATSSA The Signal Nov/Dec 2019

The Signal | November/December 2019 27 Training News ATSSA and FailSafe-ERA’s Right Road Job Training and Placement Program is about secondchances—aspiring formerly incarcerated individuals as they reinte- grate into their communities and the workforce. Right Road Job Training and Placement Programgraduate Taylor Selli is grateful he found the program after being incar- cerated for a total of 15 years. “Everybody in life has got a chance to change. It don’t matter your age,” the 53-year-old father of two adult sons, said. “It’s just that first step. Once you take that first step—that’s the most important thing in life. It’s a new beginning.” Selli took that initial action after being released from prison in May 2019. He met Douglas Taylor, FailSafe-ERA direc- tor of learning and development at a Virginia Employment Commission job fair in Fredericksburg, Virginia. FailSafe- ERA is a nonprofit organization in Fred- ericksburg that works to improve the lives of families and those affected by incarceration. Taylor highlighted the programand Selli began the application process. Selli was among six participants in the program held at FailSafe-ERA in August. The five-day curriculum includes job readiness, soft-skills training, job train- ing, and placement assistance. The last day of the program is ATSSA flagger training and certification. Upon success- ful completion of the program, partici- pants are placedwith sponsoring ATSSA member companies in temporary traffic control positions. Selli appreciated learning about how to reintegrate into the workforce, soci- ety, and life. Most importantly, he said he learned how to set goals and how to “get a job and keep a job.” Although Selli didn’t initially see himself becoming a flagger, he is enthusiastic about the possibilities in traffic safety. “Flagging isn’t only about standing on the side of the road and flagging. There’s opportunity for advancement, and that’s what I likeabout it,” he said. “I canadvance and become a trainer, or I can advance and become a specialist. It’s a good career for me.” Selli’s aspirations would align with the goal of the program. ATSSAVice President ofMember Services Donna Clark said, “The program helps qualified returning citizens receive the training and job resources they need to put them on a path to success.” ATSSA and FailSafe-ERA announced their partnership in establishing the program during ATSSA’s 49th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in February 2019. A pilot program followed in April in Fredericks- burg, Virginia. “This partnership helps those returning to their communities in getting the skills they need to have enriching careers and make our roadways safer,” Clark said. Taylor appreciates the partnership. Taylor added, “Research says if a person getsmeaningful employment there’s less chance of recidivism. Organizations like ours can help them learn the essential skills that you need to lead a productive life. Being partneredwith ATSSA can give them hope.” Taylor meets with Selli once a week for family coaching. He defined Selli as a focused “mentor” in the program. That mentor plans tomake his mark in traffic safety—and life. Selli’s goal, “Save people on the road ... save lives. That’s what I want to do now, helpingotherpeople to liveabetter life.”  To learnmore about how toget involved in theRight Road Job Training and Placement Program, visit ATSSA.com/Member-Center/Workforce-Development or contact Clark at donna.clark@atssa.com. Taking the right road Job training and placement program instills hope for new graduate Taylor Selli is a recent graduate and success story for ATSSA and FailSafe-ERA’s Right Road Job Training and Placement Program.