Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, has been recognized by the Florida Department of Children and Families with a 2023 Moments of Impact Award. The award was presented to Better Together at the 2023 Florida Children and Families Summit in Orlando on Sept. 7.
Better Together earned the award for its contributions toward supporting strong and resilient Florida families. The organization was also praised for its work providing hurricane relief and assessing families’ needs after Hurricanes Ian and Idalia.
“Immediately after Hurricane Ian made landfall, Megan Rose and the Better Together team activated resources to communities where families were most in need,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris. “The Better Together team was knocking on doors for weeks after the Hurricane to help families that may have had difficulty getting to services. Together, we were able to make a huge impact in the lives of so many families, and for that, and so many more reasons, they are deserving of a Moments of Impact Award.”
During the Summit, CEO Megan Rose had the opportunity to speak before hundreds of people in child welfare about the role of storytelling in helping families who are struggling.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing conversation around child welfare in Florida and ending the foster care crisis. With more than 20,000 calls to the abuse hotline every month, the system is overwhelmed, and parents need help before it gets to that point,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “With the help of our volunteers and supporters, we are strengthening families and in turn, our communities.”
Better Together is a nonprofit that helps parents who are going through a challenging time to keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. Established in Southwest Florida just over five years ago, the nonprofit’s programming has rapidly expanded to reach families in 21 counties across the state. To date, the program has served over 6,000 children and kept 98% of families together, while helping nearly 39,000 job seekers across 22 states find employment.
To learn more about Better Together, its programs and how to get involved, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
