How Often Should You Contact Alumni After Discharge?
Last updated: August 2026 · Reviewed by Sara Caldwell, Head of Alumni Services, New Resilience.
The short version: Contact alumni most in the first 90 days after discharge, when relapse risk is highest, then taper. A common cadence is a touch at discharge, then at 7, 30, 60, and 90 days, at 6, 9, and 12 months, and lighter contact out to 24 months, with the frequency decreasing over time. Use a mix of channels: SMS for check-ins and reminders, phone calls for milestones and anyone showing risk, and virtual groups, events, and an app for community.
A cadence that works
A schedule that programs commonly use, front-loaded early and tapering over time:
At discharge, within the first 24 hours.
Days 7, 30, 60, and 90.
Months 6, 9, and 12.
Lighter, ongoing contact out to 24 months.
The exact dates matter less than the shape: heaviest in the first three months, then decreasing frequency as recovery stabilizes, with at least a year of contact and ideally two.
Why front-load the first 90 days
The period right after discharge carries the highest relapse risk, so that is when steady contact matters most. The first touch within a day of leaving keeps the connection warm, and regular check-ins through the first 90 days catch problems while they are still small. As people stabilize, you can pull back to monthly and then quarterly without losing the relationship.
Match the channel to the moment
SMS for routine check-ins, reminders, and review requests. It is how most people prefer to be reached and it scales.
Phone calls for milestones, for anyone who goes quiet, and for anyone showing signs of struggle. This is the high-touch channel, used where it counts.
Email and a newsletter for broad updates and resources.
Virtual support groups and in-person events for community and peer support.
An app for self-serve connection, resources, and a direct way for alumni to refer friends and family.
How to actually keep the cadence
No coordinator can run this schedule from memory across a whole alumni community. The programs that keep the cadence automate it: each alum is on a defined sequence, the routine touches fire on time, and a missed check-in or a concerning reply escalates to a personal call. That is what lets a small team stay consistent, which is the same reason a good program can hold far more alumni per coordinator, covered in how many alumni one coordinator can manage.
If you want to see how New Resilience runs a stage-based alumni cadence across SMS, calls, and events from one place, book a 15-minute demo.
Frequently asked questions
How long should you stay in touch with alumni? At least a year, and ideally two, with the frequency decreasing over time.
What is the highest-risk window? The first 90 days after discharge, which is why the cadence is front-loaded there.
What is the best channel? SMS for routine contact, phone calls for milestones and anyone at risk, and events plus an app for community. Match the channel to the purpose.
How do you keep up with the cadence at scale? Automate the schedule so each alum gets the right touch at the right time, and escalate to a call when someone misses a check-in or shows risk.
