McKinney youth drug-prevention organization receives over $1.6 million in federal, state funding

A McKinney-based organization with the goal of preventing substance abuse among local youths has recently received more than $1.6 million in federal and state funding to further its initiatives.

The FreeStyle Foundation in McKinney, a national nonprofit that supports substance-free living, received $625,000 in federal grants from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, according to a Jan. 13 news release from Sen. John Cornyn’s office.

In addition, the nonprofit's local branch, The Coalition for McKinney Drug Free Youth, received $1 million from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. Both of these are five-year grants.

"Texas, and in particular McKinney sits in a region with a high amount of drug use and drug trafficking,” founder Paul Chabot said in an email. “Our overall goal is to measurable reduce youth substance use through prevention strategies, while, also educating parents on resources, tools and information to better them on current substance abuse trends, and methods for intervention."

The federal grant will be used to put local policies in place to help reduce youths’ access to substances, Chabot said.

Chabot said the coalition will be advocating for a local Social Host Ordinance. This ordinance would hold party hosts liable for knowingly providing alcohol to minors on their property.

With this ordinance in place, parents and property owners would be discouraged from allowing minors to consume alcohol on their properties, Chabot said.

The state grant will provide funding for educational outreach and prevention programs, he said.

The coalition opened a McKinney office in December at 7200 W. University Drive, Ste. 264.

Chabot said the organization is actively hiring to help expand its operations in McKinney.