Lily Pad #26: January 2025

Richland County DSS Office

Richland County, SC

• Richland County is in the Midlands Region of South Carolina. In addition to being the state capital, it is the second most populous county, behind only Greenville County. There are approximately 476 youth experiencing foster care in Richland County.

• Recognizing the challenges faced by youth in foster care — many of whom have experienced significant trauma — we saw an urgent need to transform the environment they spent time in. The original space, though well-intentioned, had fallen into disrepair and was no longer meeting the needs of the children it served. With care and compassion, we created a welcoming, safe, and beautifully designed space where youth can feel dignity, comfort, and stability during their time at the office.

• To meet kids where they are — emotionally and developmentally — we designed two distinct, thoughtfully crafted rooms. One became the Lily Pad room: a cozy, welcoming space with reinforced board and batten walls, solid wood furniture, and durable, comforting elements. The second became a Behavioral Health Room, built with safety and stability in mind, featuring reinforced walls, metal storage, and solid wood furnishings. We believe that calm, clean, and intentionally designed environments can have a powerful impact on a child’s mood, helping to foster a sense of dignity, safety, and peace.

• Construction on the two rooms began in late 2024 and was completed in early 2025. With a dedicated team in place to keep the spaces well-maintained and welcoming, they officially opened and have been serving children ever since. This location is especially meaningful to us — it is the 26th Lily Pad we've created, marking the halfway point in our mission to bring a Lily Pad to every DSS and state adoption office in South Carolina.