FORT MYERS, Fla. - s4story -- Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, and the Lee County Sheriff's Office have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that allows the two organizations to work more closely to support families who are facing a hardship and prevent the need for foster care.

Designed to identify families in crisis and step in before foster care becomes necessary, the local collaboration allows Better Together and the Lee County Sheriff's Office to exchange vital information and establishes clear protocols to better serve families in the county. The memorandum includes briefings with existing personnel, pre-deployment training for new deputies, ride-alongs and annual trainings for deputies and school resource offices, ensuring continued collaboration, understanding and preparedness. Deputies can submit referrals on behalf of families that allow the nonprofit to step in to meet their needs.

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"The Lee County Sheriff's Office is grateful for the strong partnership we've built with Better Together. As first responders, we understand the importance of connecting community members in need with the right support and resources—something our deputies encounter every day. We're excited to continue this collaboration as we work together to serve and strengthen the great community of Lee County," said Sheriff Carmine Marceno.

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. To date, Better Together has served more than 15,000 children, and 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting remain out of foster care. The nonprofit has also connected more than 46,000 job seekers to employment opportunities through church-based job fairs across 24 states.

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The partnership's success is rooted in the deputies' willingness to go the extra mile – recognizing when a family needs help and submitting a referral on their behalf. Their proactive involvement reflects a shared mission and commitment to strengthening families and communities.

"By joining forces, our organizations are better positioned to keep families intact and strengthen our community as a whole," said Isis LaRose, VP of strategic partnerships and market development for Better Together. "We're so grateful for the Lee County Sheriff's Office's commitment to serving families in need, and together, we're making a real difference in their lives."

Better Together relies on a broad network of community partners to help identify families in need and build support systems that help them stay together and thrive. The nonprofit collaborates with partner agencies across the state – including the Department of Children & Families, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, shelters, treatment facilities and schools – to accomplish its mission.