What to Bring for the Adolescent Residential Program
Below is a general list of items to bring and to leave at home. If there are items not included on the list that your loved one wants to bring, ask the admissions staff or primary counselor.
For staff safety: Please limit your luggage to no more than 40 pounds per bag. Keep in mind that storage space is limited to one closet for each client. Please limit personal items to those that can be stored in a bedroom (with one dresser and one desk).
For client safety: To ensure client safety, residential staff may require that some items be kept at the nurses station and checked out when in use. Some items, like razors and hair dryers, are listed below. The residential team may identify additional items when the client arrives at the residence.
Medications
At minimum, residential clients must bring a 7-day supply of each prescribed medication with them to the admission appointment. Clients are encouraged to bring the entire supply of prescribed medications you currently have on hand. All medications must be in their original bottles or packaging. After the admissions appointment, all client medications will be kept in the locked medication room in the staff office.
Personal Toiletries
Skyland Trail provides personal hygiene products such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste and deodorant. Clients may bring their own if they prefer. Some personal toiletry items, like sharps (e.g. razors, tweezers, scissors, etc.), toiletries in glass containers (e.g. perfume, nail polish, facial creams, etc.), and products containing alcohol (e.g. mouthwash, hand sanitizer, etc.) will be kept at the nurses station, and the client may check them out when needed. Because storage space at the nurses station is limited, please limit these items - sharps, glass containers, and products containing alcohol - to what will fit in a one gallon plastic storage bag. When possible, consider transferring some items in glass containers to plastic containers.
Comfortable Clothing
Clients are encouraged to pack and wear comfortable clothing. A 7 to 10 day supply of clothing is recommended. Be prepared to get a little dirty sometimes. You will work with paint, clay and other materials in art therapy, food in our cooking classes and natural materials outdoors in our greenhouse and gardens. You also should pack clothes and shoes appropriate to wear while using our exercise room and gym.
We provide washers, dryers and detergent for residential client use. Clients are responsible for washing their own clothes, linens and towels. Laundry baskets, an iron and an ironing board are provided.
Clothing should be appropriate and should cover the chest, torso, buttocks, and undergarments. Shoes and supportive undergarments (bras, underwear, boxers, etc.) must be worn at all times outside of client private rooms.
Clothing items that are specifically prohibited include, but are not limited to:
- clothing with offensive language or that promotes or depicts drugs, alcohol, tobacco, drug paraphernalia, violence, or hate speech
- tops that expose the midriff or torso including halter tops or shirts with open sides
- tops that expose undergarments
- low cut or open tops that expose the chest (male and female)
- pants, shorts or skirts that expose undergarments or buttocks
- sheer or see-through clothing
- pajamas or nightclothes outside of private client rooms
Skyland Trail staff may ask a client to adjust his or her attire if a particular item or style of dress conflicts with treatment goals and activities.
Clients should dress comfortably and should wear clothing suitable for the day’s treatment activities (i.e. active wear for exercising, clothing you don’t mind getting dirty for horticultural or art therapy, etc.) Temperatures vary in different environments, so sweaters, sweatshirts or light jackets may help you feel more comfortable.
What You Need for School
Clients will continue academic work while in treatment. Please bring what you need to complete your school work, including text books, workbooks, notebooks, agenda/organizers, etc. Please bring a list of passwords and login information for online classrooms or learning programs. In adherence with our program's device-free policy, please do not bring laptops, chromebooks, or tablets. Computers are provided in the education lab.
Water Bottle
Stay hydrated! Bring a small water bottle to carry with you. Water fountains are available for refills.
Decorative Items for Room
Clients are encouraged to bring small personal items and mementos for the room. (Note that nothing can be nailed to the wall.) Photo frames should not contain glass.
About Musical Instruments & Art Supplies
We celebrate the musical and artistic talents of our clients and encourage clients to incorporate music and art as part of their strategy to maintain health. However, because our residences are shared living spaces and our client rooms have limited storage capacity, we ask clients to adhere to a few rules. Clients are limited to one instrument. Drum sets must be table-top size. Headphones must be used with electric guitars, keyboards, etc. Instruments should not be played in common areas outside of the client's private room. Clients may bring coloring books, crayons, pencils and markers. Please do not bring paints or canvasses. Clients will have access to the art room and a wide range of art materials from paints to ceramics during art therapy groups and during some evening hours.
What NOT to Bring
Smartphones, Tablets, and Devices
The adolescent program is device free. Please leave phones, tablets, gaming systems, smart watches, and other devices at home.
Furniture
Rooms are fully furnished, and there is little room for extra pieces.
Cash and Valuables
Cash, credit/debit cards, valuable jewelry, and other items of value should not be brought to Skyland Trail.
Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco, and Vaping
Alcohol, cigarettes, vape pens and pods, tobacco products, street drugs or non-prescription drugs are not permitted on Skyland Trail property.
OTC Medicines & Supplements
Please do not bring any over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen or aspirin or any non-prescription supplements like vitamins or herbal or nutritional supplements. These medications are available as needed from the nurse’s station. If these supplements are brought to the residence, they will be destroyed because we cannot verify their origin or safety. If you have a prescription from your doctor for a supplement to treat a known medical problem, please present your prescription and the supplement to the nurse at admission. Your supplement will be available as needed at the nurses’ station.
Weapons
Weapons of all types including firearms are strictly barred from Skyland Trail facilities and campuses. Weapons are not permitted anywhere on Skyland Trail property or in Skyland Trail vehicles.
Bed linens, towels and cleaning supplies
Skyland Trail provides toilet paper, laundry detergent and other cleaning supplies. Towels, sheets, and other bed linens are provided. All linens and towels will be laundered by a professional laundry company.
Appliances
Space heaters, coffee makers, hot plates, microwaves, toaster ovens, and other kitchen or cooking appliances are not permitted.
Recreational Equipment
Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, roller blades, roller skates, and other similar items are not permitted on campus.
Pets
No pets or emotional support animals are permitted on the J. Rex Fuqua Campus. Service animals are permitted.
Cars and Personal Vehicles
Adolescent clients may not have personal vehicles parked overnight at the J. Rex Fuqua Campus.
About Laundry
Skyland Trail provides washers, dryers and detergent for residential client use. Clients are responsible for washing their own clothes with support from staff. All linens and towels will be laundered by a professional laundry company. Laundry baskets, an iron and an ironing board are provided.