Lily Pad #3: August 2022
Department of Social Services Spartanburg County, SC
Spartanburg County is in the Upstate region of South Carolina.
This office currently serves approximately 200 children in foster care.
Upon our touring the office in May 2022, we learned this office was often sleeping children from the Greenville County office and Anderson County office. Children would sleep on air mattresses in the conference room if there was not an immediate placement for them.
We enjoyed working with the team in Spartanburg. The caseworkers and supervisors were very excited for an opportunity to make the children more comfortable and the office experience less traumatizing.
We had complete design flexibility with this Lily Pad installation. We were allowed to hang board and batten, change flooring and paint. All those changes really helped to make this space feel like stepping out of the office and into a home.
BEFORE: Torn carpet on a cement floor and conference room furniture.
BEFORE: When overnights were necessary, children were sleeping on air mattresses with girls in the front of the conference room and boys in the back.
AFTER: Trundle beds for sleep, dining table, desks, toys and a comfortable sofa to spread out and watch movies. Truly a soft place to land.
Plenty of toys.
Trundle bed with linens .
Books for all ages.
A signature Lily Pad treat jar is always included!
Lots of chalk for the chalkboard wall.
The TV cabinet holds a Nintendo Switch with games and a blu-ray player with movies to watch.
Calming decor.
Chalkboard wall.
Art that also reminds children and youth that they are loved and cared for.
Bedside lamp and sound machine.
Bedding with satin pillowcases and space to sleep one or two.
A trundle bed allows for space to sleep two children and the beds can be separated when necessary.
A space designed just for the caseworkers right outside the entrance to Lily Pad #3.
Local artist, Jessica Fleming, completed a watercolor painting just for this space. Follow her on instagram @jessicaflemingart. Thanks, Jessica!
A workspace for caseworkers just outside the Lily Pad #3 entrance.
A soft place to land during an uncertain time.