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114–4000. Division to Implement Procedures to Assist Minors Seeking Abortions. The Division of Adoption and Birth Parent Services of the Department of Social Services shall implement procedures to assist minors in the preparation and filing of petitions for court orders granting them the right to obtain an abortion without consent. HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 16, Issue No. 4, eff April 24, 1992. 114–4010. Minors to Be Treated with Compassion, Dignity and Respect. All minors shall be treated with compassion, dignity and respect. HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 16, Issue No. 4, eff April 24, 1992. 114–4020. Anonymity of Minor Protected. At all times the anonymity of the minor shall be protected, unless otherwise requested by the minor. HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 16, Issue No. 4, eff April 24, 1992. ARTICLE 43 ADOPTION SERVICES (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code §§ 43–1–80, 63–9–360) 114–4370. Certification of Adoption Investigators and Persons Obtaining Consents or Relinquishments. A. Definitions (1) Person - an individual, self-employed or employed by an agency. (2) Department - the South Carolina Department of Social Services. (3) Child placing agency or agency -the State Department of Social Services and any person or entity as defined in Section 63–9–30. (4) Consent - the informed and voluntary release in writing of all parental rights with respect to a child by a parent for the purpose of adoption, or the informed and voluntary release in writing of all custodial or guardianship rights, or both, with respect to a child by the child placing agency or person facilitating the placement of the child for adoption where the child’s parent previously has executed a relinquishment to that agency or person. (5) Relinquishment - the informed and voluntary release in writing of all parental rights with respect to a child by a parent to a child placing agency or to a person who facilitates the placement of a child for the purpose of adoption and to whom the parent has given the right to consent to the adoption of the child. (6) Investigation and reports - Pursuant to section 63–9–520, before the final hearing for adoption of a child, investigations and reports must be completed in accordance with the following: (a) Before the placement of any child by any agency or by any person with a prospective adoptive parent, a preplacement investigation, a background investigation and reports of these investigations must be completed; (b) A postplacement investigation and report of this investigation must be completed after the filing of the adoption petition. (7) Court - any Family Court in this state. B. Certification Requirements (1) Persons completing preplacement and postplacement investigations, and reports of these investigations on behalf of and at the direction of the Department or a child placing agency must meet the following requirements: (a) Hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in a human service related field from an accredited college or university; or