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September 10, 2025

Before You Adopt: Questions Every Mom Should Ask

34 minutes

Thinking about adoption but not sure where to start? Suzy Shaw and co-host Cheryl Bohn sit down with Ryan Hanlon, PhD—President & CEO of the National Council for Adoption (NCFA)—to cover what every mom should ask before adopting. We get real about eligibility, timelines, costs, open vs. closed adoption, medical info, choosing an agency, and how to know if your family is truly ready. Clear, practical, zero fluff.

Guest: Ryan Hanlon, PhD (NCFA) — adoptioncouncil.org

In this episode you’ll learn:

Eligibility criteria by adoption type and state

Foster care vs. private domestic vs. international: timelines & costs

What “open” adoption actually looks like today

Medical/background info you can expect—and how to evaluate it

Questions to decide if you’re ready (as a couple and as a family)

How to find an ethical, well-matched agency

If this helped, share it with a mom who’s considering adoption—and follow the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide for next week’s part two on life after the adoption.

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By Flame Digital Communications