Funded Projects

Illustrated health education for immigrant families

Project Year

2026

City & State

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Health Literacy

Program Description

Problem Refugee and immigrant populations face significant barriers to understanding and accessing health information due to limited English proficiency and low health literacy. These challenges lead to misunderstandings, poor adherence to medical recommendations, delayed care, and worse health outcomes for children. Research in health communication demonstrates that pictorial and illustrated materials improve comprehension, recall, and adherence among individuals with limited literacy or English proficiency, particularly when visuals are culturally relevant and paired with minimal text. Visual aids reduce cognitive load, support learners with little formal schooling, and convey key health concepts when language barriers persist. Despite participating in tailored health education programs, such as those offered through the Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, many learners struggle with basic health concepts. Traditional verbal instruction and text-heavy materials are often insufficient for individuals with limited formal education or literacy. This gap underscores the need for purposefully designed medical illustrations that clearly depict actions, behaviors, and decision points.  Primary setting This project will be implemented through the International Learning Program at the Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, a long-established community resource supporting refugees and immigrants. The program offers English as a Second Language classes, literacy and adult basic education, and citizenship preparation. Pediatric residents and medical students lead health education sessions on relevant topics, providing an ideal setting to introduce visual learning tools.  Number of children affected Many adult participants in the program are parents of young children. Among learners with children under 18, family sizes range from one to seven children, with most families having three or more children. Although exact ages are not recorded, this distribution indicates a substantial number of school-aged children. Improving caregiver health literacy is expected to positively affect children’s health and well-being.  Project goal The goal of this project is to improve health literacy among refugee and immigrant families through culturally responsive medical illustrations. By incorporating visually focused educational materials into health sessions, the project aims to overcome language and literacy barriers that limit understanding. Although sessions are delivered to adults, all content is pediatric- and parenting-focused, emphasizing child health, preventive care, medication safety, and caregiver decision-making.  Proposed interventions Illustrated health education flyers will be developed to align with session topics. Each flyer will feature clear medical illustrations conveying key messages, paired with minimal English text and translations into participants’ native languages. Topics may include preventive care, recognizing childhood illnesses, medication use, nutrition, mental health, and local pediatric healthcare resources. Illustrations will reflect participants’ cultural backgrounds. Materials will be reviewed iteratively with program staff, educators, interpreters, and learners to ensure medical accuracy, clarity, and cultural relevance. Flyers will be distributed during sessions and made available for home use and family sharing.  Anticipated outcomes The use of illustrated materials is expected to improve comprehension, engagement, and retention of health information. Anticipated outcomes include increased caregiver confidence, improved understanding of pediatric health concepts, and more appropriate use of healthcare services. Earlier care-seeking and better adherence to treatment recommendations are expected to improve pediatric health outcomes among refugee and immigrant families overall. 

Project Goal

To enhance health literacy among refugee and immigrant families through culturally responsive medical illustrations that help caregivers understand pediatric health topics and navigate the healthcare system effectively. 

Project Objective 1

Objective 1 – Improve Comprehension Specific: Increase participants’ understanding of monthly health education topics using illustrated, culturally relevant teaching materials. Measurable: At least 70% of participants will show improved comprehension based on pre- and post-session assessments. Achievable: Visual tools support learners with low literacy and limited English, making comprehension gains realistic. Relevant: Understanding health concepts is foundational to health literacy and aligns with the project’s primary aim. Time-Bound: Measured monthly, with cumulative evaluation at 12 months. Inclusive & Equitable: Materials will be culturally adapted and translated when possible to ensure accessibility for learners of all language backgrounds. 

Project Objective 2

Objective 2 – Increase Engagement in Health Education Sessions Specific: Increase learner participation and attendance during monthly sessions after implementing illustrated materials. Measurable: Achieve a 15% increase in average attendance and a 25% increase in observed participation (asking questions, volunteering answers, interacting with materials). Achievable: Prior sessions already showed greater engagement when pictures were used, supporting feasibility. Relevant: Higher engagement improves retention and supports community trust in health education. Time-Bound: Assessed monthly and compared across the 12-month project period. Inclusive & Equitable: Visual materials allow learners of all literacy levels to participate more fully. 

Project Objective 3

Objective 3 – Increase Confidence in Navigating the Healthcare System Specific: Strengthen participants’ confidence in performing basic healthcare navigation tasks (e.g., choosing where to seek care, understanding medication instructions). Measurable: A 20% increase in self-reported confidence scores on a simple, visual Likert-style scale. Achievable: Visual take-home materials reinforce learning and support real-life application. Relevant: Confidence is a key component of functional health literacy and supports long-term health outcomes. Time-Bound: Semiannual confidence surveys are administered, with evaluation at the end of 12 months. Inclusive & Equitable: Confidence surveys will use images and translated text to ensure linguistic and literacy accessibility. 

AAP District

District VI

Institutional Name

Neighborhood House of Milwaukee

Contact 1

Linda Berg Luecke, MD, PhD