Our People

FOCUS

As the Co-Executive Director and Director of Training at the Institute to Transform Child Protection, Katie develops and implements training focused on trauma prevention, building resilience, strength-based advocacy, and collaboration in the legal system. Katie also works with other Institute staff members to design and teach law school courses related to trauma-responsive advocacy and the constitutional rights of children and parents.

EDUCATION

J.D., 2011, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago
B.S., Family Social Science major, Family Violence Prevention minor, 2006, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining the team at Mitchell Hamline, Katie was an Investigator and Educational Specialist in the Student Maltreatment Program at the Minnesota Department of Education, where she investigated reports of student maltreatment in Minnesota public schools. She also served as the program’s training and data practices coordinator. Katie spent time as a judicial law clerk in Hennepin County Juvenile Court and family law attorney and she is currently an executive board member of the MN Trauma Project.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As a volunteer attorney with the Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, Katie has represented children living in foster care in child protection cases.

FOCUS

As the Director of Trauma-Informed Care, Miriam develops and provides training on best practices at the intersection of legal services and trauma-informed care. She also serves as the social work supervisor for graduate social work students to link theory and practice and to serve the clients represented through ITCP. Miriam is an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas School of Social Work and a therapist in private practice.

EDUCATION

M.S.W., 2006, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, St. Paul
B.A., Religious Studies, 1998, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining the team at the Institute, Miriam was a faculty member at the University of St. Thomas School of Social Work where she taught undergraduate students in junior- and senior-level field seminars. Her role focused on helping students to develop their professional identities and connect theoretical coursework with “real-world” experience. Beginning in 2014, she served as the social work supervisor at Mitchell Hamline’s Child Protection Clinic, providing clinical supervision for students doing their field experience. She consulted with clinic staff and students on client issues, trauma-informed care, and policy and practice. Her contribution helped set the direction for the clinic’s social work programming. As a therapist in private practice, Miriam works with individuals and couples to sustain authentic identities, cope with difficulties, and overcome trauma.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• LICSW, Minnesota Board of Social Work
• Professional Treatment Modalities: EMDR • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy • Motivational Interviewing • YogaCalm • Mental Health with Refugee Populations • Heart-Centered Therapy with Men • Social Work Supervision • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

PUBLICATIONS & NEWS

FOCUS

As assistant director, Cierra serves as the hub of the ITCP team. She coordinates and manages services, programs, events and training within the Institute. As community engagement coordinator, Cierra integrates the voices and experiences of those impacted by child welfare into service delivery and legislative pursuits at the Institute. 

EDUCATION

B.S., Social Work, 2019, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN

EXPERIENCE

While earning her degree, Cierra completed a number of internships, including: Case Management Intern with Catholic Charities Higher Ground, St. Paul; Residential Resources Intern with People Serving People, Minneapolis; and Center Arts Intern at the DC Center for the LGBT Community, Washington, D.C. 

She also serves as a volunteer with Music and Programming at the Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, and previously volunteered with Refugee Services, Lutheran Social Services of MN.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Licensed Social Worker, 2019, State of Minnesota 

FOCUS

Alisha Watkins is the Co-Executive Director, Assistant Teaching Professor, and Child Protection Clinic Director in the Institute to Transform Child Protection. Alisha teaches law and graduate social work students in the institute’s Child Protection Clinic who represent parents and kin in child protection cases. Alisha also works to develop and further community engagement regarding kinship representation.

EDUCATION

J.D., Mitchell Hamline School of Law, 2020, Saint Paul, MN

B.S., Legal Studies, University of Maryland University College, 2013, Adelphi, MD

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining the Institute, Alisha worked as a senior paralegal and law clerk for over 15 years. Alisha also volunteered as a guardian ad litem representing the best interests of children in child welfare proceedings.  Alisha continues to volunteer and mentor the families she has worked with over the years.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the fall of 2019, Alisha was nominated as Rookie Advocate of the year after only four months as a volunteer. In the summer of 2020, she was awarded Advocate of the Quarter by her peers.

FOCUS

As an Equal Justice Works Fellow, Hannah’s work is focused on providing pre-petition legal services to families in the early stages of the child protection process to help prevent unnecessary separation and trauma. Hannah also works on various policy reform efforts aimed at improving Minnesota’s child protection laws to help keep families healthy and together whenever possible.

EDUCATION

J.D., 2023, Mitchell Hamline School of Law 

M.S.W., Social Work, Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholar, 2015, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, St. Paul 

B.A., Social Work, 2011, Bethel University, Arden Hills 

EXPERIENCE

Prior to law school, Hannah worked directly with families as a social worker for eight years in various roles within and adjacent to the child welfare system, including in the Parent Support Outreach Program, child protection investigations, and in post-finalization support for adoptive parents and relatives/kin. As a student attorney, Hannah has represented parents and relatives in juvenile court and worked on various policy reforms efforts at the Minnesota Legislature. 

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Outstanding Clinic Student Award, Clinical Legal Education Association, 2022 

PUBLICATIONS AND NEWS

The Stories We Tell Matter: Changing the Narrative in Child Protection Cases, October 2023, Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate, St. Paul, MN  

Reestablishment of Parental Rights, October 2022, Institute to Transform Child Protection, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, MN 

Effective Strategies for Working with—or Against—Kin, April 2022, ABA National Conference on Parent Representation, Washington, D.C. 

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

LISW, Minnesota Board of Social Work  

Child Welfare Certificate, Institute to Transform Child Protection, 2023 

Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC), Center for Adoption Support & Education, University of Minnesota Center for Advanced Studies of Child Welfare, 2020 

Trauma-Effective Leadership Certificate, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, Alia Innovations, 2018