About Us - History

MCYAF is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and community coalition which works to prevent adolescent drug and alcohol abuse and promote positive mental health among teens in Maine Township, Illinois. 

MCYAF was started in 2002 in High School District #207 in Maine Township, Illinois by then Supt. Steve Snider and Assistant Principal, Dr. Rose Garlasco and became a Drug Free Community Coalition consisting of the 12 sectors of the Maine Township community. MCYF has been successfully promoting healthy choices and preventing adolescent  substance abuse for over 14 years.

 Today, MCYAF continues to serve a population of about 135,000 residents and 18,000 students in Districts 207, 62, 63, 64 and the surrounding parochial schools in the surrounding areas.

Our goals are to:

• to improve the negative norms present within the Maine township community and replace it with a positive culture with respect to our teens' attitudes toward drugs and alcohol
• Offer resources, referrals and moral support to any parents and students who don't know where to go when they have questions or problems regarding drug and alcohol use by teens
• Educating students, staff, and parents on the negative effects of drugs and alcohol use by teens
• Interact with students and parents to reinforce the MCYAF slogan, “Say know to drugs.”