40 Developmental Assets & Asset Building
What is Asset Building?
Asset building is a philosophy that youth, families, businesses, schools, and churches can use to help develop positive individuals, homes, and communities. It is a way to give youth the necessary tools to make healthy choices by building on the strengths and competencies that youth already have.
What are Developmental Assets?
Developmental assets are the key factors, both internal and external, that strengthen the health and well-being of youth. External assets are the positive things that influence and guide youth. Internal assets are values, competencies and commitments.
Research shows the more assets youth experience, the more likely they are to engage in positive behaviors. Assets are cumulative; the more the better!
Everyone Can Do It!
All members of a community are needed to help build healthy youth and families. Asset building utilizes the strengths, skills, and ideas of adults and youth in established organizations throught communities. It is not about bringing in more professionals and starting new programs. It simply requires time and commitment.
How Do I Get Involved?
Getting involved in simple! Start with your own family, neighborhood, or membership organization.
- Model and talk about the values and priorities that you want to pass on
- Nurture your own assets
- Treat youth with the same respect you treat adults; look them in the eye when you speak to them, talk to them about their interests, invite them to participate in things you enjoy
- Teach and model appropriate ways to demonstrate affection
- Stand up for what you believe in
- Contact your local prevention agency to learn more about asset building and what opportunities are currently available that you can become involved in
The 40 Developmental Assets
External Assets
Support
1. Family Support - Family life provides high levels of love and support.
2. Positive Family Communication - Young person and his or her parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).
3. Other Adult Relationships - Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.
4. Caring Neighborhood - Young person experiences caring neighbors.
5. Caring School Climate - School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
6. Parent Involvement in Schooling - Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.
Empowerment
7. Community Values Youth - Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.
8. Youth as Resources - Young people are given useful roles in the community.
9. Service to Others - Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.
10. Safety - Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
Boundaries and Expectations
11. Family Boundaries - Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors the young person's whereabouts.
12. School Boundaries - School provides clear rules and consequences.
13. Neighborhood Boundaries - Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior.
14. Adult Role Models - Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
15. Positive Peer Influence - Young person's best friends model responsible behavior.
16. High Expectations - Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.
Constuctive Use of Time
17. Creative Activities - Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.
18. Youth Programs - Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in community organizations.
19. Religious Community - Young person spends one hour or more per week in activities in a religious institution.
20. Time at Home - Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do."
Internal Assets
Commitment to Learning
21. Achievement Motivation - Young person is motivated to do well in school.
22. School Engagement - Young person is actively engaged in learning.
23. Homework - Young person reports doing at least on hour of homework every school day.
24. Bonding to School - Young person cares about his or her school.
25. Reading for Pleasure - Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
Positive Values
26. Caring - Young person places high value on helping other people.
27. Equality and Social Justice - Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.
28. Integrity - Young person acts on convictions and stands up for his or her beliefs.
29. Honesty - Young person "tells the truth even when it is not easy."
30. Responsibility - Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.
31. Restraint - Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.
Social Competencies
32. Planning and Decision-Making - Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
33. Interpersonal Competence - Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
34. Cultural Competence - Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
35. Resistance Skills - Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
36. Peaceful Conflict Resolution - Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
Positive Identity
37. Personal Power - Young person feels he or she has control over "things that happen to me."
38. Self-Esteem - Young person reports having a high self-esteem.
39. Sense of Purpose - Young person reports that "my life has purpose."
40. Positive View of Personal Future - Young person is optimistic about his or her personal future.
Copyright 1997 by Search Institute. All rights reserved. The 40 Developmental Assets chart may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial use only (with this copyright line). No other use is permitted without prior permission from Search Institute. |
