“I wish I had a Lily Pad space where I could comfort my younger siblings and distract them from the trauma we were experiencing. Now that I have a safe family, I am working with Lily Pad to make positive changes for kids in foster care.”

— Ashlyn, 16

I had been in foster care since the age of three. I survived neglect in my biological family and abuse in my adoptive family.

I slept on a chair in my case manager’s cubicle.

I said, “goodbye” to my siblings in a conference room inside of a Department of Social Services office the day we were separated into different foster homes.

  • SAFE

    All children need a nurturing and supportive family and community to enable them to achieve their full potential. For vulnerable children who are exposed to child abuse and neglect, we need to ensure they are protected and supported so they can have the best chance in life. That protection and support starts with a comfortable space to rest and unwind during an uncertain time. One of the scariest times for a child in foster care is when they are first removed from their own home and waiting in an office for placement in a new home. A Lily Pad space can provide felt safety throughout those first hours and sometimes days of waiting, as well as comfort and familiarity any time a child has to be in the DSS office throughout their foster care experience.

  • COMFORTABLE

    Lily Pad is working to meet the needs of each individual office and the children they serve. The rooms may include a TV, gaming system, books, age appropriate toys, Ruggable rug, chrome books, rocking chair, weighted blankets, couches that can be made into beds, sensory bins, storage, desks, dining table, and trundle bed. Soft, clean, easily washable linens are provided in each space as well.

  • FAMILIAR

    Our organization’s plan is to build a Lily Pad in each County in South Carolina by 2027, and begin to move into other States by 2024. When a child’s placement is moved, it is not unusual for them to move to different counties within the state, and they spend time waiting in different offices. Lily Pad spaces can grow to be a familiar space in each office where a child who is spending many years of their life in care can know what to expect… a place to rest, a place to play, a place to distract themselves from the difficulties of their everyday life.

Across the United States, 391,000 children and youth are in foster care. South Carolina is one of many states in the midst of a youth housing crisis. 3,900 children are in foster care in SC. For children experiencing foster care in South Carolina, case managers are working tirelessly to secure placement for them with kin, in a foster home, or with suitable guardians. Due to several factors like a shortage of foster homes and difficulty placing children over the age of nine, children and youth are staying overnight in the DSS offices while waiting for placement. In offices without a Lily Pad space, air mattresses are strewn across office floors for children to sleep on or children make pallets with blankets in their case manager’s cubicle while they wait.

A personal space within the DSS offices can help children experiencing foster care feel a sense of belonging and inclusion. It sends a message that their presence and needs are valued, and they are not just another case or number. Our Lily Pad volunteers are building comfortable living spaces, within the department of social service offices, for children to feel loved and valued during an uncertain time. Lily Pad spaces are funded through donations from our generous donors and partnering foundations.