239.470.2733

239.470.2733

DONATE   |   VOLUNTEER   |   STAY CONNECTED
DONATE   |   VOLUNTEER   |   STAY CONNECTED

239.470.2733

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VOLUNTEER

VOLUNTEER

Why Volunteer for Better Together?

There are many ways to give back, but there is nothing like the satisfaction that comes from volunteering with Better Together. You can be part of alleviating a parent’s worst fears, which is losing their child to the foster care system, while encouraging them to seek help proactively. Our host families give parents peace of mind that their children are cared for, and, as a result, they feel empowered and motivated to accept the help of our volunteer mentors and job coaches. It’s a proven model that sets families up for success, so we can look forward to celebrating reunification with them!

Become a Church Partner

Churches are critical to our cause, enabling us to reach potential volunteers to serve as Host Families, Family Mentors, Family Advocates and Faith-based Coordinators. Better Together makes it easy to implement the Better Families program in your church. Simply share this mission with your congregation, and we’ll do the rest. We train volunteers and support them every step of the way, based on a model that has proven both successful and fulfilling.
LEARN MORE

ABOUT OUR FAMILIES

Be assured, we carefully screen parents, accepting only those who are willing to wholeheartedly receive the help you give. They promise to do their part to reach their goals.

Many of them are experiencing difficulties through no fault of their own, or simply because they are following negative patterns learned in childhood. We can help them break that cycle, impacting generations to come!

Here are some of the reasons our parents turn to us for help:
  • Illness requiring frequent treatment
  • Hospitalization due to medical emergency
  • Loss of their husband or wife
  • Single parenthood and lack of family support
  • Job loss that leads to food and housing insecurity

We receive referrals from 220 community partners, but 60% of our referrals come from the Florida Department of Children and Families because they too see the value of preventing abuse and neglect before it starts.

Volunteer Testimonials

“One can only hope for an experience that brings them closer to their spouse, enhances the relationship, and even takes the marriage to another level. Better together has provided this priceless opportunity to further God’s Kingdom together as a couple. The bond it can create by serving together for the same purpose, God’s purpose, has been unbelievable. The whole family has shared memories of enhancing other people’s lives together. We have worked hard, laughed, and even cried on each other’s shoulders... but we did it all together. The reward of helping another family has been great. Being able to look in my family’s eyes and know we did it, and did it together, has been even greater.”
Ricco and Traci Thurwalker, Host Family
“Working with Better Together is so rewarding. It awakens the hearts and souls of all those involved - from the intake personnel, to the families receiving the task to care for all God’s children, continuing to flow to the families enduring hardships who are reaching out for support, to the final moments when the file is closed. Sometimes, the literal file is closed, but God’s work continues. That’s when you feel and know you are doing God’s will for your life.”
Jennifer Berning, Mentor
“I’ve got life experience and advice, and of course the spirit of God living in me, so this combination puts me in a position to give practical advice on things. I like knowing I’ve had the privilege of being used by God, and that we are not just his representatives, but we are continuing his work. And to be able to see it so tangibly in a way that I’ve never seen before is a blessing to me beyond description.”
Joseph Hebert, Mentor
“We opened our loving home to hosting because just saying ‘it takes a village’ is one thing but acting upon it fulfills our hearts like never before. Our boys are actively learning gratitude and other valuable lessons that are best taught by example.”
Jennifer Downes, Host Family
“Opening our home and our hearts to care for a sweet child that needs a little extra love can be terrifying, exciting, overwhelming, wonderful, exhausting and so fun! It’s not something you need to be equipped for or strong enough for, God is working that part out in real time every minute. It’s humbling to know we are all loved the same by Him even when there are so many who aren’t shown that love this side of heaven. We feel so blessed to be a small part of that tangible love. To give it and receive it by all the families we get to be apart of with Better Together.“
Jennifer Ammirati, Host Family
“We became a host family because we wanted to give children experiencing a tough time a safe and loving place to stay. We wanted to provide support to these parents who may be facing challenging times but still want the best for their children. We also wanted to create an environment of compassion, kindness and empathy for our children and show them that helping others is one of the best characteristics they could possess.”
The Doze Family, Host Family
“Volunteering to help others feel safe in a time of need brought us closer together, and we felt happy as we worked together to help them overcome their crisis. Staying in touch with the families after they move on has been a great reward for us to know that we helped make a difference. “
Destiny Miner, Host Family
“We love serving as a family with Better Together because it is a very tangible way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are grateful for the opportunities that it gives us to teach our kids about what it means to live out the Gospel by loving others.”
Lauren Wemple, Host Family

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Join more than 1,000 volunteers from Hillsborough County south to Collier County. While we are currently serving families on the west coast of Florida, we are interested in expanding statewide. Be part of bringing Better Families to your community!

Click through each volunteer opportunity to learn more!

Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
Our host families welcome a child – or multiple children – into their homes. This is often on a short-term basis while their parents work through a temporary crisis. The average stay is 41 days, but the impact lasts a lifetime. Compare that to 501 days, which is the average stay of a child in Florida foster care. Join more than 1,000 volunteers spanning the west coast, from Tampa to Naples, as we keep children safe and families together.

What it Takes

  • Background check
  • Training
  • References
  • Home safety check
There are certain skills many of us take for granted because we learned them from watching people in our own lives. However, not everyone has this advantage. Job coaches help others with simple advice like how to create resumes and dress for interviews. They model social skills and provide emotional support for those who struggle to believe in themselves, boosting their motivation and helping them set and achieve their goals.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
When you’re alone, finding a way out of debt, addiction, homelessness and other serious challenges can feel impossible. A family mentor meets with parents weekly to help them accomplish their goals – whether that’s securing a job, finding safe housing, managing money or reuniting with their children.

What it Takes

  • 1-2 hours each week
  • Background check
  • Training
  • References

Faith-based coordinators provide important wrap-around services to Host Families. The coordinate support from congregations, providing meals, child care and other services.

What it Takes

  • 2-3 hours each week
  • Background check, training and references
FAQ
Apply NOw

Host Families: All We Ask is a Short Commitment

Reunification has a goal date of 90 days, but on average children are reunited with their parents after just 41 days! Our volunteers find 41-90 days is never enough, though. They clearly get hooked on this amazing experience. In fact, many of them have been with us from our inception in 2015.

Giving Through Donations

Perhaps volunteering doesn’t fit your abilities or lifestyle. Maybe the timing isn’t quite right, but you want to give. Because our Host Families don’t get paid, they really appreciate help with meeting children’s basic needs. Better Together seeks financial contributions or donations of diapers, baby food, formula, clothing, toys and other essentials.
Learn More
OUR WISH LIST

Our team is dedicated to helping people help themselves. We empower them to find employment and provide a loving, safe and supportive foundation for their children.

Learn More

QUICK LINKS

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GRACIOUSLY FUNDED BY

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HEADQUARTERS

15275 Collier Boulevard
Suite 201-284
Naples, FL 34119
Tel: 239.470.2733
info@bettertogetherus.org
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Cammara OvertonBetter Together Team

Cammara Overton
Collier County Family Care Coordniator

Cammara worked in the international nonprofit sector and served as a missionary overseas for 10 years before joining Better Together as the Collier County Family Care Coordinator. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Florida Gulf Coast University. She has a heart for building relationships and serving women, children and their families and sharing the hope and love of Jesus Christ with everyone she meets. Cammara is passionate about coming alongside those seeking life change and helping them achieve all that they desire to do for themselves and their families. Cammara is very excited to be a part of the Better Together family by providing recourses and extending love and compassion to families in crisis.

Cammara and her husband, Dan, enjoy spending time playing volleyball and hanging out with friends and their Italian pup, Harley. They both have a passion for serving the Lord and being the hands and feet of Jesus in their community.

Jennifer MoffittBetter Together Team

Jennifer Moffitt
Tampa Bay Region Home Study Specialist

Originally from Massachusetts, Jenn moved to Florida in 1993 to be closer to her parents, who had left the snow behind the year before. In 1996, she graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Jenn started her career working in private adoptions as a birth parent worker. After two years she was drawn to child welfare. For the next 19 years, she worked as a child protection investigator for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. In 2019 she began working for the Office of the State Attorney, 6th Judicial Circuit, as a child abuse specialist. She assisted prosecutors with interviewing child victims of abuse and neglect and served as a liaison with the Department of Children and Families and their local community providers.

Jenn and her husband, Shawn, were married on Christmas Day in 1999, and they have two boys, ages 12 and 20. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, taking day trips, visiting the beach, and vacationing in the mountains of North Carolina.

Katie MalloyBetter Together Team

Katie Malloy
Northeast Region Home Study Specialist

Katie was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and attended the University of Mississippi, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Katie has been working with children and families in the foster care system in Duval County since 2015. Her passion is advocating for children in care and helping build strong and healthy families. During Katie’s childhood, her church community was a great support system for her and her family. She’s a firm believer that the more people who love a child, the better.

Ruth DavidsonBetter Together Team

Ruth Davidson
Southwest Florida Church Engagement Director

Ruth has a passion for serving others. She believes strongly in giving back to the community and paying it forward. She loves to share her personal story of how, with God’s help, she was able to overcome past hurdles. Growing up in rural Kentucky in a large family that faced many struggles, she knows firsthand how God’s love can heal and restore broken families. She has the gift of hospitality and enjoys communicating with others with the hope that she is never meeting strangers, only making friends.

Ruth comes to Better Together with over eight years of ministry experience. After moving to Fort Myers from Fort Lauderdale in 2016, she served as an outreach coordinator for a nonprofit faith-based recovery program for more than five years. She was also an administrative assistant to her directors, scheduling events and successfully developing and establishing relationships with several businesses and churches in Southwest Florida. She has a relaxed way of making others feel comfortable, possessing a servant’s heart and loves outreach and missions.

Ruth currently resides in Naples and enjoys traveling, dining out, cooking, entertaining and serving in her community. She has two grown children, Martin and Annie, and one grandson, Drew, who loves to visit with his Nana.

Amanda ColafrancescoBetter Together Team

Amanda Colafrancesco
Sarasota/Manatee Home Study Specialist

Amanda was born and raised in Rhode Island and moved to Florida in 2016. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in administration of justice from Salve Regina University. Upon graduation, she began a career in child welfare, specifically toward a goal of preventing children from entering the foster care system. Amanda brings diverse experiences in serving children and families in their home environments to her work with Better Together as a home study specialist. She is also a certified child welfare protective investigator through the Florida Certification Board and has over six years of child welfare experience. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys visiting with family and friends.

Yohana RestoBetter Together Team

Yohana Resto
Southwest Florida Executive Director

Yohana brings to Better Together 15 years of experience working in child welfare. She has served in various roles, including case manager, clinical services specialist, relative search specialist, foster family recruiter, and most recently a role conducting comprehensive assessments for children in foster care or relative care. Yohana has a heart and passion for serving children and families, and she brings to the organization a wide breadth of knowledge and experience. A graduate of Southeastern University and Nova Southeastern University with a bachelor’s in psychology and Master of Science in counseling, Yohana has a caring and compassionate heart to support families in need.

Yohana loves spending time with her husband, Miguel, and their four children—Isabela, Natalia, Jaxon and Jayden. You can frequently find them at a soccer game, as their girls enjoy playing competitive travel soccer. Yohana credits her relationship with God and personal salvation as the motivating force behind her desire to continue to serve her community.

Dawson JordonBetter Together Team

Dawson Jordan
Creative Director

Dawson is an exciting addition to the Better Together Team. Since graduating college in 2015 from Florida Gulf Coast University with his bachelor’s degree in Business Management he has managed to create a successful career for himself as a self-employed freelance videographer/photographer. He has recently relocated back to his hometown in SWFL and is excited to join the team as the Creative Director to help us tell the Better Together story. Dawson is passionate about telling stories through a creative lens, especially when it comes to seeing families stay together and for individuals to thrive and become the best version of themselves. When Dawson is not in the office he likes to hang out with his friends, workout, and watch sports.