FORT MYERS, Fla. - s4story -- Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, has promoted Kayla Palacios to chief operating officer.

Palacios has been a vital part of the Better Together team for the past three years, first serving as executive director of its North Central Florida region, where she built a strong volunteer network and gained firsthand knowledge of every regional role. She later stepped into the role of vice president of operations, where she strengthened systems, improved outcomes, developed strong leaders and helped scale Better Together's work statewide.

Before joining the organization, Palacios dedicated 12 years to the Marion County Public Schools, serving as assistant principal as well as other key leadership roles. Her servant leadership and hands-on care for families reflect the values that define Better Together.

Her leadership was evident from the very beginning. In her first week on the job, Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida, home to Better Together's headquarters. Palacios immediately jumped in, leading by example and ensuring families and staff were supported through the crisis. She and her family have also opened their home to host several children in need over the past three years.

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"Kayla brings a proven record of strengthening operations, building teams and driving impact," said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. "She is deeply committed to our mission and has my full trust and confidence in this role. Having strong, passionate, and devoted leaders like Kayla is critical to our success."

Better Together works to prevent the need for foster care by building strong families and communities. When a parent needs support – due to homelessness, a medical emergency, or other crisis – Better Together volunteer host families provide a safe, loving home for the children short term, while staff and mentors empower the parents to secure employment, housing and other needs. Because job loss is at the root of most family crises, the Better Together workforce program provides opportunities for all job seekers through relational job fairs and volunteer job coaches.

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 45,600 job seekers to employment opportunities through church-based job fairs across 24 states.

To learn more about Better Together and its mission, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.