It started with a question.
In 2015, in Naples, Florida, Megan Rose was invited to lead a state-funded nonprofit to keep children out of foster care. What Megan saw on the ground told a bigger story and demanded a bolder response.
Families weren’t falling apart because they didn’t love their children. They were breaking down because they didn’t have support systems of their own—because poverty, job loss, or a health emergency had pushed them past the breaking point. They had nobody to call for help.
Megan recognized that government programs didn’t have the speed or the depth of services required to save these families. The system provided services after the damage had been done, after families hit rock bottom, and after children were placed in foster care.
But what if the church got there first—to catch families before they fall?
That question became a mission. That mission became Better Together.
- 100% privately funded: We are independent, sustainable, and free from red tape, so we can stay preventative, agile, and true to our mission.
- Volunteer-driven, but professionally supported: We mobilize everyday people to walk alongside neighbors in need, with the tools and oversight to make a lasting impact.
- Innovative and outcome-driven: We are focused on finding what works and scaling it quickly to reach more families.
- Community-led: We believe the best solutions come from the people living in the areas they serve, not bureaucracy.
What We Do
We unite churches, employers, and neighbors to build a volunteer-powered safety net that parents can trust.
Keep children safe
Our network of vetted host families care for children temporarily, giving parents time to get back on their feet without losing custody.
Address the root causes of hardship
We get to know each family, identifying unique needs and finding custom solutions that empower parents to help themselves.
Help parents find work
Job loss is one of the greatest threats to family stability. We help churches host job fairs, empowering neighbors to overcome barriers to work, find second chances, restore their dignity, and break cycles of dependency.
Build lasting community
Our mentors, churches, and local volunteers wrap families in a supportive community that sticks around long after the crisis has passed.
In 2015, families in crisis were sent to foster care. Today, because of our community and what we’ve built together, those families are sent to Better Together instead.
Growth and impact
What began as a one-person start-up in Naples has grown into a statewide and national movement:
children kept safe and out of foster care
job seekers connected with job openings in 24 states
of churches and employers united to be part of the solution.
The Vision Ahead
We know our solutions are keeping families together:
Parents are regaining stability and hope.
Children are growing up safe and loved.
Volunteers are finding purpose and connection through service.
Churches are reclaiming their role as anchors of the community.
Now it’s time to expand. We have a bold vision to bring the Better Together model to every community in America. Because when neighbors, churches, and employers come together, families don’t just survive – they flourish.
