By: Tracy Sanders, Publisher
tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
SPARTANBURG — A new partnership between Lily Pad: A Soft Place to Land and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office is bringing a more compassionate environment to victims of crime and children experiencing crisis situations.
On Monday, community leaders, law enforcement officers, and advocates gathered to celebrate the opening of Lily Pad’s first trauma-informed “soft room” located inside the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.
The space was created to provide a calm, supportive setting for children and adults who may be facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“This space is about ensuring that after a crisis, children and adults are met with dignity, safety, and care as they interact with law enforcement officers,” said Jennifer Tice, co-founder of Lily Pad. “For victims of crime and children in crisis, environment matters.”
Partnership Creates Supportive Environment
The room was developed through a partnership between Lily Pad and the Spartanburg Special Victims Unit, including Sergeant Sarah Arms.
According to organizers, the space will be used for victim interviews, meetings with advocates, and temporary support for children awaiting pickup by the Department of Social Services.
Unlike traditional interview or interrogation rooms, the Lily Pad room was intentionally designed to reduce fear and anxiety.
The space includes soft seating, weighted blankets, books, sensory tools, and other calming elements aimed at helping victims and children feel safe and supported.
“For far too long, victims who had just experienced the worst day of their lives were brought into cold, sterile interrogation rooms that could feel intimidating and overwhelming,” Sergeant Sarah Arms said. “The Lily Pad room changes that.”
Advocates Emphasize Importance of Trauma-Informed Care
Ashlyn, a survivor and advocate who spoke during the opening ceremony, said spaces like the new Lily Pad room can make a lasting difference in a person’s healing journey.
“How someone is treated in their hardest moment can shape everything that comes after,” she said. “No one should feel alone or unseen when they are asking for help.”
Lily Pad originally began by transforming child welfare offices across South Carolina into welcoming, trauma-informed spaces for children entering foster care.
Since launching in 2022, the organization has created more than 42 Lily Pad spaces statewide and continues expanding through partnerships with agencies, law enforcement departments, and community organizations.
First Law Enforcement-Based Lily Pad Room in Spartanburg County
Organizers say the expansion into law enforcement settings reflects a growing recognition that the physical environment can play a major role in how victims experience crisis response and recovery.
“No one should experience their worst day in an environment that feels cold or impersonal,” the organization stated in its release.
The new space represents the first law enforcement-based Lily Pad room in Spartanburg County and one of the organization’s first partnerships of its kind in South Carolina.
