Finding permanent homes for these children and the new ones who pour into the system each year may prove significantly more difficult. The Internet is one widely heralded solution. The idea of online adoption has also fueled the faith of tireless adoption crusaders such as NAC director Carolyn Johnson. Johnson, who is white, began exploring the barriers to foster-care adoption. I said, 'You can't push children on people.
People adopt the children they want to adopt.
Johnson has been telling people for more than 25 years now, through a number of old-media means, including a weekly column in a black newspaper in Philadelphia, a segment on a local television program, annual appearances on the Maury Povich show and periodic features in Essence magazine. People are more aware of Chinese baby girls than they are of U.S. kids. I believe that if you let the American public know who these children are, they will come forward to adopt. Despite such high hopes and the triumphant language issued from the executive branch, however, many of those involved with Internet adoption caution that new software does not a revolution make. Still, the use of the Internet is very much in keeping with the mandate for faster adoptions.