Residential Services: What to Pack
Packing List
Recommended Items:
7 sets of seasonally appropriate clothing
2 sweatshirts or sweaters
1 pair of sweatpants
1 seasonally appropriate jacket
2 sets of pajamas
10 pairs of socks
10 pairs of underwear
3 bras (if appropriate)
2 pairs of shoes
1 pair of flip flops for bathroom areas
1 pair of slippers
1 winter hat (during winter)
Eyeglasses / contact lenses (if necessary)
Orthodontic retainers (if necessary)
Medications (if necessary)
Healthy preferred snacks
Optional items:
Trillium will provide sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, and basic personal hygiene supplies (soap, deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste), however a child or teen may bring their own items if they prefer.
Things to Leave at Home:
Tank tops, sleeveless shirts, skirts, dresses, revealing clothing, clothing that portrays violence or is disrespectful, belts, clothing with studs, under wire bras, thong underwear, dress shoes, and high-heeled shoes or boots.
Jewelry
Sexually explicit materials
Personal hygiene items with strong chemicals or smells, such as: nail polish remover, hair spray, alcohol mouthwash, razors, cologne, perfume, or body spray
Cameras, cell phones, or other electronic devices with internet access
Any personal needs not listed here (i.e., over-the-counter medications) should be discussed with your therapist or the unit nursing staff.
Toys and Personal Items
Each client has a small space in which they may store their personal items, such as toys, stuffed animals, papers, etc. We also have many toys and other items that a client may use or borrow. If your child wants to bring personal items or toys from home, we recommend they only bring a few, that they are somewhat small, and that they are inexpensive (usually under $20). We recommend quiet, safe toys that your child can use alone or in a small group.
While all clients’ belongings will be locked up for security, please do not bring valuable or irreplaceable items to the cottage. Trillium is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or broken items, and loss of personal items can be very upsetting to a child or adolescent living away from their home. For safety reasons, we cannot allow items with glass or metal into the residential cottages, so please make efforts to find items without these materials. We also cannot allow toys that are violent by nature (guns or other toy weapons) or toys/games that glorify violence.
Suggested items:
Lego / K’nex
Photographs or a scrapbook/ photo album
Up to 5 stuffed animals (not battery operated)
Deck of cards
3-4 magazines suitable for any age; no fashion or music magazines
3-4 books
Personal journal
Toys/Items to Leave at Home:
Large toys
Knitting or sewing materials
Personal movies/CD’s
Sexually explicit materials
Cell phones, pagers, wireless communication devices
Glass of any kind
Metal objects of any kind
Stereos with speakers
Some items are never allowed on campus and will be confiscated immediately by staff. These items include, but are not limited to, real or toy weapons, chains, pocket knives, drugs or alcohol, sexually-explicit materials, and incendiary devices such as cigarettes, lighters, or matches.
Search Procedures
At times, Trillium program staff may conduct searches of clients or their personal effects, for the purpose of eliminating contraband and protecting the clients and/or others. Contraband is defined as any item prohibited in any particular program. Common examples would be weapons, sharps, illegal substances, including cigarettes and firestarting material, as well as items promoting sex, drugs, violence or gang related themes. These items are reviewed with the client upon orientation to the unit. Searches of client’s and their belongings will be conducted regularly.
Music and Electronics
Clients may bring their own battery-operated music player to campus. For personal video game systems and Mp3 players, a waiver must be signed. We work to make sure that each client has access to items that will make their stay more pleasant. However, it is important that personal items are not loud or irritating to other clients, and that all clients are respectful of others. In addition, these items sometimes allow access to the internet or cameras. If this is the case, we will ask that the item not come with your child. Again, please remember that items can sometimes be lost, and Trillium is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
