K-12 School Nurses’ and Family Liaisons’ Perspectives on Language, Healthcare and Health Literacy

Date: 26 May, 2026, 13:00-15:00

Room: Mötesrum 25, Albano, building 2, floor 3

Many low-income, multilingual immigrant K-12 students’ first interactions with a healthcare provider in the U.S. occurs in school (e.g., with a school nurse), however, little is known about the impacts of these interventions.

This presentation will center on the perspectives of K-12 public school nurses and family liaisons on healthcare and health literacy development among multilingual immigrant students, including those with disabilities, in the state of Illinois. Findings will be situated within the shifting federal and state education, health and language policy landscape and build on existing research on multilingual students with disabilities in U.S. public schools.

The presentation will conclude with recommendations for promoting culturally and linguistically affirming healthcare and health education for multilingual children and youth.

Presenter Bio

Liv T. Dávila is an Associate Professor at Dept. of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on languages and literacies as they relate to learner identities, educational experiences, and broader social processes (e.g., of inclusion or exclusion).

This research has primarily focused on adolescent immigrant and refugee learners in public K-12 settings, as well as their families, and teachers. Relatedly, her research also explores questions around language access and interpretation in other community and institutional contexts, such as in immigrant-serving community organizations, and in medical education.

Full profile:
Liv T. Dávila