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From Day One to Discharge: Ideas for Residential Program Welcome & Discharge Kits
- Hannah Kane
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Why These Residential Kits Matter
Beginning a journey through residential treatment, regardless of the program (mental health, substance use disorder, eating disorders, trauma, etc.), can be very disorienting and frankly scary. However, it can be life-changing for the resident if they stick with it.
The welcome kits and discharge kits are more than “stuff” — they’re signals of safety, care, and hope. They can make the resident feel supported when away from loved ones, and they can give the resident confidence for growth when they leave.
Faith Factory is a gift and apparel shop created by someone in recovery, focused on meaningful, mental health-friendly gifts. Our
shop within Rogers Behavioral Health of Oconomowoc gives a chance for residents and family members to feel, see, and purchase some of our products firsthand.
In this blog, you'll discover which products can help residents during treatment or as they discharge. I'll provide a practical guide for assembling kits that genuinely support healing—and perhaps throw in a few comical products along the way!
Ideas on What to Include in Each Kit
Welcome Kit Essentials
Comfort items: soft socks, cozy hoodie or t-shirt, small plushy.
Grounding tools: fidgets, stress balls, worry stones, sensory toys.
Practical pieces: notebook (non-spiral bound) and pen, lip balm, soap, lotion, slippers.
Calming resources: affirmation cards, journals, coloring, sketch or word game books, deck of cards.
Discharge Kit Essentials
Aftercare tools: journal for step-down care, planner pages for appointments/meetings, meditation cards or book.
Recovery reminders: sobriety/affirmation apparel, stickers for water bottles/Big Books, keychains.
Coping support: portable fidgets, affirmation decks, grounding cards, comfort tea.
Connection prompts: sponsor/sober network contact card, list of crisis lines & local supports.
Celebration moment: “You did something brave” card, milestone token, jewelry.
How to Build Kits That Actually Feel Supportive
Step 1 – Start with Safety and Sensory Comfort
Soft fabrics, non-triggering designs, and items that feel gentle and grounding.
Consider sensory sensitivities (textures, smells, sounds).
Step 2 – Make It Personal, Not Generic
Think about the person's style, shirt size/colors, quotes, fidget type.
Use language that’s stigma-free and people-first (e.g., “person in recovery,” “someone living with bipolar,” etc.).
Step 3 – Align with Treatment Goals
Include tools that support skills they’re learning: mindfulness, self-soothing, DBT skills, 12-step work.
Tie items to specific practices (“Use this journal after group to process feelings.”).
Step 4 – Think Beyond Discharge Day
Focus on items they’ll use at home, in IOP, at meetings, at therapy.
Encourage long-term routines: morning readings, evening check-ins, weekly gratitude lists.
Faith Factory Kit Ideas
Residential Welcome Kit from Faith Factory’s Shop
*Click each underlined section for a list of Faith Factory Products *
Cozy Apparel:
Fidget or Distractable:
Plushies or Comfort Items:
Affirmation or Encouragement:
Discharge / Aftercare Kit Ideas
*Click each underlined section for a list of Faith Factory Products *
Apparel:
Paper and Writing Tools:
Stickers:
On The Go Grounding Tools:
Q&A For Welcome & Discharge Kits
Q: Are these kits only for addiction treatment programs? A: No. They work beautifully in mental health, eating disorder, trauma, and dual diagnosis programs too—anywhere people need extra care and comfort.
Q: What if our budget is small? A: Start with 2–3 essentials: a comforting item, a grounding tool, and one small token they can take home. Consistency matters more than cost.
Q: How do we make kits inclusive? A: Avoid triggering language or images, offer neutral designs, and use people-first language. Consider gender-neutral options and multiple sizes. We offer at Faith Factory sizes XS- 5XL for our apparel.
Q: Can families make their own kits? A: Yes—and many do. This blog can double as a checklist for parents, partners, and friends building support boxes.
Q: Are there any specific restrictions on the units? A: Yes there are some. To get the full unit list of restrictions please ask the intake individual to get that for you. I do know that in RBH there are no spiral bound books.
First to Last Day of Treatment & Beyond: We Are Here!
The welcome and discharge kits are a quiet, powerful way to say, "You're thought of. You can do the hard things. We are cheering for your success."
These kits can be made by many different individuals. Whoever you are, family, loved one, friend or care team professional you can start small and find out what helps the patient most. Be sure to ask and try to include or think as the kit recipient, it will mean so much to them.
If you’d like help curating meaningful welcome or discharge kits for your residential program—or creating a care box for someone you love—you’re in the right place. Explore our mental health and recovery-focused gifts on our website, or reach out to dream up something just for your person!
To Hope & Healing,
Hannah Kane
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