A Be The One Project initiative from The Aaron Rogers Foundation
Independence should not require isolation.
A supported-autonomy model in development for young people roughly ages 15–25, designed to explore how chosen support can strengthen connection without taking away a young person’s voice.
For prospective hospital, behavioral-health, and community partners. This invitation is to discuss development, not enroll in an operating pilot.
Why This Exists
We can’t change what happened to Aaron. We can change what happens to the next Aaron.
Aaron’s experience drives our commitment to support that sees the whole person. Be The One is working to build a mental-health system where young people are supported without losing their independence, families are heard without taking over, transitions don’t become cracks to fall through, and no one has to reach the point of crisis before connection begins.
The Model
Support Without Taking Over starts with a conversation, not an assumption about who should be involved. A young person identifies trusted people, describes the help they want, and names boundaries around that involvement.
The aim is to make support specific, understandable, and revisitable. It is not a transfer of control to a parent or caregiver.
Six Questions at Intake
- Who is your trusted person?
- Who knows you well when you’re not doing well?
- Who can give us information?
- Who may receive information?
- What would you want that person involved in?
- What would you not want them involved in?
These proposed prompts support a conversation. They do not replace required consent, clinical assessment, or safeguarding processes. A person who cannot identify a trusted supporter should still receive care and connection.
A Support Circle, Chosen by the Young Person
Level 1 — Information Contributor
A trusted person shares observations and concerns through an agreed channel. Receiving information from someone and disclosing information back are separate questions.
Level 2 — Support Partner
A chosen person participates in designated planning or discharge discussions with the appropriate consent and permissions.
Level 3 — Crisis Support Partner
A predetermined crisis plan identifies a chosen contact and the circumstances for contact, consistent with applicable law and clinical judgment.
These are proposed support roles, not legal access categories. They are not a ladder a young person must climb. Involvement should reflect their preferences, safety, and the permissions appropriate to the situation.
What a Clinical Pilot Could Test
A proposed 6–12-month pilot could explore:
- A supported-autonomy conversation at intake.
- A documented trusted-support designation and boundaries.
- A secure process for receiving support-person observations.
- Written crisis preferences.
- A continuity-of-care plan.
- Discharge safety planning led by qualified professionals.
- A clear follow-up schedule.
- A designated care navigator for people needing more intensive coordination.
Before implementation, partners would need to agree eligibility, staffing, consent processes, data safeguards, escalation responsibilities, and evaluation methods. The needs and legal circumstances of minors and adults must be considered separately.
What We Would Measure
Potential measures include treatment retention, missed appointments, repeat emergency visits, readmissions, completed follow-up after discharge, patient satisfaction, chosen-support-person satisfaction, and engagement with treatment.
We would also want to understand whether young people felt heard, respected, and in control of their involvement choices. A pilot should examine burdens and unintended effects, not only hoped-for benefits.
Measures, reporting periods, and an appropriate evaluation approach would be defined with partners before launch. No effectiveness findings or implementation cost estimates are claimed here.
What We’re Looking to Develop Together
We welcome conversations with young people, people with lived experience, clinicians, hospital leaders, researchers, social workers, and community organizations interested in refining the model.
Potential areas for collaboration include intake workflows, consent and privacy review, accessible materials, staff preparation, continuity planning, and a practical measurement framework.
Current Stage
Concept development. This page describes a proposed model, not a validated intervention, established clinical protocol, or available treatment service. Pilot partners, downloadable implementation materials, and launch dates are not announced here.
Start a Conversation
Tell us about your organization, the young people you support, and the transition or continuity problem you would like to explore. Please do not submit patient records or sensitive personal health information through the general contact form.
Connection before crisis. Support without taking over.