Developmental Assets

Search Institute

What do children and young people need to

succeed in school, in work, as future

parents, as community members, or in

life as a whole ?

Big question in parenting

What are developmental Assets?

building blocks of healthy development that all of us have the power to bring into the lives of children and teenagers

Search Institute has identified 40 of these building blocks (assets)

These assets are Powerful

The more assets young people have, the less likely they are to engage in high-risk behaviors (using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other illicit drugs)

Protecting youth from high risk behaviour

0-12assets

11-12assets

21-30assets

31-40assets

Problemalcohol use

45% 26% 11% 3%

Violence 62% 38% 18% 6%

I llic it druguse

38% 18% 6% 1%

SexualActivity

34% 23% 11% 3%

Promoting Positive Attitudes and Behavious

Developmental assets play a significant role in students’ academic achievement • higher current asset levels, the higher their

current GPA• more assets students reported, the higher

GPA 3 yrs. later. • more important than demographic factors

(gender, family composition, socioeconomic status, or race/ethnicity)

Promoting Positive Attitudes and Behavious

0-10Assets

11-20Assets

21-30Assets

31-40Assets

Exhibitleadership

48% 66% 78% 87%Maintainsgoodhealth

27% 48% 69% 88%

Valuediversity

39% 60% 76% 89%

Succeedsin School

9% 19% 34% 54%

40 Developmental Assets (Externals)

Supports • Family support• Positive family communication• Other adult relationships• Caring neighborhood• Caring school climate• Parent involvement in schooling

40 Developmental Assets (Externals)

Empowerment • Community value young people• Given useful roles in community• Given opportunity to serve 1 hr. or

more a week• Feel safe at home, school, and in

neighborhood.

40 Developmental Assets (Externals)

Boundaries and Expectations• Family has clear rules and consequences• School has clear rules and consequences• Neighborhood monitor young people

behaviors• Good adults role models• Best friend models responsible behavior• High expectations from parents and

teachers

40 Developmental Assets (Externals)

Constructive use of time• Engage in creative activities 3 or more

hours / week• Spend 3 or more hours /week in

community relationships• Spend 1 or more hours /week in a

religious community• Spend 2 or less nights/week hang outs

40 Developmental Assets (Internals)

Commitment in learning• has motivation to do well in school• actively engaged in learning • do homework at least 1 hr./week• proud and care about his school• read for pleasure 3 or more

hours/week

40 Developmental Assets (Internals)

Positive character traits• Caring and helping other people• Equality and social justice (e.g. reducing

poverty)• Integrity (stand up for his principles and beliefs)• Honesty (tell the truth when it is not easy)• Responsibility (accepts and take personal

responsibility)• Self discipline (restraint of desires and urges)

40 Developmental Assets (Internals)

Social competencies • Know how to plan ahead and make

choices• Has empathy, sensitivity and friendship

skills• Comfortable with people of other

cultural/racial background• Able to resist negative peer pressure• Able to resolve conflicts non-violently

40 Developmental Assets (Internals)

Positive Self Identity • “ I have a choice”• “ I feel good about myself”• “ My life has a purpose”• “ I have a great future”

Level of Assets in American Youth

Among 150,000 6th to 12th grade youth in 202 communities across USA , 2003

Grade Grade Gender

6th 23.0 10th 17.6 Female 19.97th 20.2 11th 17.6 Male 17.7 8th 18.7 12th 17.89th 17.7

Gap in assets among youth

0-10 assets 17% 11-20 assets 42% 21-30 assets 32% 31-40 assets 8%

While there is no magic number of assets young people should have, but the data indicates that 31 is a worthy benchmark for experiencing their positive effects most strongly.

Where do I start?

Building strong families Involving in school Maximizing the benefits of a faith

community

Where do I start?

There is one asset that links to 20-25 assets

Faith Community