Poll finds shifting attitudes among Ohio social workers

By Nadia Ramlagan

Social workers have complex feelings about achieving legal permanency for children in foster care and as National Social Work Month draws to a close, advocates are reviewing updated poll results from 2024.

Child welfare professionals often face burnout, long hours and legal barriers but many working in the foster care system still believe it is possible for a child to find a happy home.

Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, said the Harris Poll commissioned by her organization two years ago showed widespread discouragement among workers in the field.

"We began to see a dip, when we said, is it possible? Is legal permanency possible?" Soronen reported. "Legal permanency is legal adoption, legal guardianship, reunification or reinstatement of parental rights."

Soronen added in some cases, the attitudes of judges, attorneys, social workers or others involved in the foster care system may become a barrier to permanency for a child.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption first commissioned The Harris Poll in 2022 to survey child welfare professionals across the United States on their perspectives surrounding legal permanency. In 2024, the Foundation re-administered the survey with new questions to gain additional insights.

Despite signs of discouragement, the poll data showed the number of professionals who believe all kids are adoptable only continues to grow.

"We moved 8% of that target audience out of somewhat disagree or unsure into 'I support this,' or a higher level of agreement," Soronen explained.

As of March 2026, there have been more than 16,000 adoptions, legal guardianships and reunifications facilitated through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy's Wonderful Kids program.