TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of North Port, Florida, a Municipal Corporation, and Better Together Strengthening Families, Inc., a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization D/B/A Better Together to Reduce the Number of Children Entering Foster Care by Streamlining the Process of Caring for and Placing Minors Encountered During Law Enforcement Activities.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of North Port, Florida, a Municipal Corporation, and Better Together Strengthening Families, Inc., a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization D/B/A Better Together to Reduce the Number of Children Entering Foster Care by Streamlining the Process of Caring for and Placing Minors Encountered During Law Enforcement Activities.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of North Port, Florida, a Municipal Corporation, and Better Together Strengthening Families, Inc., a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization D/B/A Better Together to Reduce the Number of Children Entering Foster Care by Streamlining the Process of Caring for and Placing Minors Encountered During Law Enforcement Activities.
• Pros: This Memorandum of Understanding will allow the North Port Police Department to take advantage of the services provided by Better Together. This will greatly improve operational efficiency, reduce encumbered time, and provide a stable and secure environment for the children of North Port, when they are in need.
• Cons: There are no foreseeable cons to approving this Memorandum of Understanding.
Option 2: Deny the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of North Port, Florida, a Municipal Corporation, and Better Together Strengthening Families, Inc., a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization D/B/A Better Together to Reduce the Number of Children Entering Foster Care by Streamlining the Process of Caring for and Placing Minors Encountered During Law Enforcement Activities.
• Pros: There are no foreseeable pros to denying the Memorandum of Understanding.
• Cons: Failure to adopt this Memorandum of Understanding will prolong officer response times due to delays with the Department of Children and Families and eliminate a resource critical to preserving family stability.
Background Information
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is for Better Together, a Florida not-for-profit organization, to provide organizational support and related services to children aged 0-17 who are in immediate need. Through the Better Families Program, assistance will be offered in situations that fall outside the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) or other appropriate authority, or when support is provided with the approval of DCF or other appropriate authority. This partnership is intended to streamline the process of caring for and placing minors encountered during law enforcement activities, helping to ensure that children receive timely and appropriate care while minimizing the need for law enforcement officers to provide temporary supervision.
Family advocates work alongside parents to provide guidance and support as they strive to regain stability. In addition, Better Together connects parents with employment opportunities through its Better Jobs program, which pairs individuals with a dedicated job coach.
The overarching goal of Better Together is to prevent child abuse and neglect by offering a compassionate, non-threatening safety net for families in crisis. By empowering parents to help themselves, addressing the root causes of instability, and keeping children safely with their families whenever possible, this partnership aims to strengthen families and build brighter futures.
The Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of North Port, Florida, a Municipal Corporation, and Better Together Strengthening Families, Inc., a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization D/B/A Better Together to Reduce the Number of Children Entering Foster Care by Streamlining the Process of Caring for and Placing Minors Encountered During Law Enforcement Activities has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of North Port, Florida, a Municipal Corporation, and Better Together Strengthening Families, Inc., a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization D/B/A Better Together to Reduce the Number of Children Entering Foster Care by Streamlining the Process of Caring for and Placing Minors Encountered During Law Enforcement Activities was provided to the City Clerk’s Office, for signatures, on December 18, 2025, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Memorandum of Understanding
2. Florida Division of Corporations
Prepared by: Jamie Ebershoff, Executive Assistant
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police