Brooke Beskau Warg

The Project

Brooke will increase access to high-quality, culturally appropriate and individualized parent representation and improve outcomes for children and families involved in the child protection system in Minnesota.  

Every year, thousands of families enter the child protection system in Minnesota. Minnesota is one of only a handful of states that does not mandate the right to court-appointed counsel in child protection proceedings. Additionally, there is currently no statewide system to appoint qualified attorneys to represent parents. This structure results in some parents receiving minimal legal representation while others receive no legal representation at all. High-quality legal representation is imperative for positive outcomes for families, as parent attorneys play an important role in advocating for their client’s needs and ensuring reunification. Brooke’s project is focused on improving outcomes for families by ensuring that all parents in Minnesota receive high-quality legal representation.  

As a certified student attorney with the Mitchell Hamline Child Protection clinic, Brooke had the opportunity to represent parents, grandparents and children. Through her experiences with the clinic, she saw firsthand the impact the child protection system can have on the families who enter it.  Brooke is passionate about improving the child protection system in Minnesota and ensuring successful outcomes for the families who come in contact with it.  

Fellowship Plans

Brooke will work collaboratively with the Institute to Transform Child Protection to increase education and training for parent attorneys practicing in Minnesota, and reform the child protection system in the state through strategic appeals and policy advocacy. Brooke will develop tools and resources for current and future parent attorneys that incorporate best practices. She will also reform the system in Minnesota by bringing strategic appeals that protect parents’ rights and help develop an improved body of caselaw. Finally, Brooke will effectuate change through policy reform.   

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