Background & Bio

Linda Hampton Starnes has spent her life actively involved in the disability and special health care needs community as a special educator, parent, speaker, and advocate. As a high honors graduate from the University of Tennessee, as well as two graduate certifications in human resource development and organizational development from Georgetown University, Linda worked as a special educator, then as an appointee at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education in Washington D.C. She then began her most important role: Mother of two with different rare genetic conditions, medical complexities, and varying abilities. Linda managed years of 24-hour home nursing, worked with physicians and therapists in 15 medical specialties, and oversaw over 40 hospitalizations for her children.

With both children grown and pursuing their careers, Linda returned to the workforce over four years ago, as the Statewide Family Leader for the Florida Department of Health’s Title V CYSHCN Program. All the while, she has also served as their Family Delegate to the Association for Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). She was a part of AMCHP’s Leadership Lab for three years, first as a mentee and then as a mentor, and currently serves as Chair for AMCHP’s National Conference Planning Committee.

Over the past two decades, Linda has served on numerous councils and boards of healthcare, disability, and educational institutions at state and national levels, and presents at conferences each year. Linda is also a graduate of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Region IV Public Health and Primary Care Leadership Institute.

As a seasoned family leader, Linda views her current position with the CYSHCN Program and service with AMCHP and other organizations as a way to give back in support of families like hers. She strives to ensure considerations of youth and their families are present in all her work, with “family” being defined in the broadest and most diverse way. As well, she is committed to bringing family leader voices forward into all aspects of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) realm. Linda’s “why” in every endeavor is to advance family engagement, partnership, and leadership in public health and health care for systems improvements on behalf of all families, and especially for those with loved ones with complex medical care needs, like hers.

Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Linda has lived in Dallas, Boston, the D.C. metro area, and currently resides in the Orlando suburbs with her husband of 40 years. Together they raised two wonderful children, both college graduates pursuing their respective career and life paths.