Examining the Foster Care-to-Prison “Pipeline” in Minnesota: Building Protective Systems for Youth

Description

(August 2026)

Youth with foster care experience are overrepresented in Minnesota’s juvenile and adult legal systems, but justice involvement is not inevitable. This conversation will break down the evidence behind the foster care-to-prison “pipeline,” examine the individual and system-level factors that contribute to risk, and discuss practical, evidence-informed approaches that parents, caregivers, and professionals can use to strengthen protective factors and improve outcomes for youth.

This discussion combines national research with Minnesota data and policy to examine how these issues affect youth in our state.

Brianna Coleman is a clinical social worker who currently provides therapeutic services within a maximum-security prison, working with individuals diagnosed with serious, persistent mental illness who are experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis. Her clinical approach integrates trauma-informed, attachment-based, evidence-driven practices tailored to meet complex needs. With nearly 15 years of experience within the mental health field, Brianna is experienced in crisis stabilization, risk assessment, diagnostic clarification, and challenging systematic barriers to care. In addition to her direct work, Brianna designs and facilitates trainings and workshops for mental health professionals, community agencies and families/caregivers. Her presentations aim to offer practical assessment tools, strategies, and trauma-responsive treatment using humor, vulnerability, and real-world examples to better support the co-occurring needs of the people in our communities. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2018 with a master’s in social work and serves as a co-chair of the MN Suicide Prevention Taskforce.

Watch time: 120 minutes

Eligible Certificate of Completion time: 120 minutes