Journeys in Community Living is proud to announce that it has secured and is now fulfilling a new contract that allows the individuals served by the nonprofit to learn valuable job skills while earning cash.

The first shipment of drug-testing kits packaged by individuals served by Journeys is making its way to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services as a result of the contract with Community Rehabilitation Agencies of Tennessee.

“We packaged 1,200 and shipped them out Nov. 12,” said Joy Eubanks, Journeys’ Production Center supervisor. 

Community Rehabilitation Agencies of Tennessee, more commonly referred to as CMRA, is the central nonprofit agency for the state government’s Advisory Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely Disabled.

CMRA contracts with the state government to provide it with products and services. In turn, CMRA contracts with agencies (like Journeys) employing persons with severe disabilities to fulfill the contracts.

Journeys was one of several nonprofit agencies that bid for the drug-testing kit contract with CMRA.

The drug-testing kits include items like cups, chain of custody forms and tamper-proof shipping materials.

“We are very happy about this contract and what it means for the folks in our Production Center,” said Journeys in Community Living’s Executive Director Betty McNeely.

The Production Center inside Journeys’ 1130 Haley Road facility allows individuals with intellectual disabilities served by the agency to earn money while they receive vocational training aimed at helping them secure jobs out in the community.