Bilingual Family Liaisons

DMPS employs 28 Bilingual Family Liaisons (BFLs) who serve as cultural brokers to immigrant and refugee students and their families. BFLs provide a wide range of services to refugee and immigrant families including Adult English Literacy classes, empowerment workshops and training with the objective to improve relationships at home, school and in the community.  

BFLs connect families with community resources such as housing, healthcare, and essential needs. BFLs equip families with tools to advocate for their children, ensure their success in school, and access post-secondary education options.  

BFLs serve families who speak:  

  • Spanish
  • Arabic 
  • Burmese
  • Dari
  • Dinka
  • Karen
  • Karenni
  • Kunama
  • Nepali
  • Pashto
  • Somali
  • Swahili
  • Tigrinya
  • Vietnamese 

Bilingual Family Liaison Specialist

Laura McAtee
Address: 1000 Porter Ave., Des Moines, IA