CFPHD Governing Committee Bio

Linda Sutherland
Secretary
Linda Sutherland has served as the Executive Director of the Orange County Healthy Start Coalition since February 2001. As the chief executive officer of the Coalition, she oversees a $3 million budget and related staff and programs which support both the Coalition of over 130 members and a variety of direct maternal and child health and social services offered to the community. Prior to her work with the Coalition, she served on the Orange County School Board for twelve years.

During her tenure she served as both chairman and vice chairman for the local school board and as President of the State School Board Association, as well as many national education and early childhood development advisory committees.

 Her areas of special interest and advocacy have always been early childhood issues, especially related to early intervention and prevention, and legislative matters effecting the welfare of children which have involved working closely with neighborhood groups, community leaders, and political representatives. She considers herself first and foremost, a child advocate, so appropriately has spent considerable time learning about brain research, child health and best practices of parenting, educating, etc. She serves on many boards responding to issues facing children and families, including the Florida Children's Campaign.