You’ve probably already been doing it for years. But now with this framework, you can do it on purpose!

Developmental Assets

Developmental Assets: THE ETHOS IS...

…creating positive, nurturing and enduring relationships

The Developmental Assets framework helps in our understanding of the focus of these relationships to avoid us just being 'nice', but being objectively intentional.

Relationships that focus on seeing others achieving their potentialPutting the interests of other above your own

Is creative in affirming others

Sees the good in others

Is a positive role model for others

Has time for others

Does not attach a 'price tag' to the relationship

Not keeping a record of wrongs, always hoping, always persevering, never failing

Developmental Assets: BACKGROUND

The Lutheran Brotherhood in the US a commissioned a study to identify the factors that cause a person to thrive.

After 20 years of research, the findings identified there were 40 factors that can make a person reach their full potential.

The more factors they have, the more likely they are to succeed

The less factors they have in their life, the more likely they areto have problems (eg delinquency, drug use, violence etc.)

The research findings have been applied to 3 million peopleworldwide, and the findings are more and more relevant today

Developmental Assets: EXTERNAL

CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME

CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIMECreative activities [17]

Youth/adult programmes [18] Faith community [19]

Time at home [20]

BOUNDARIES & EXPECTATIONS

BOUNDARIES & EXPECTATIONSFamily boundaries [11]

School/work boundaries [12] Neighbourhood boundaries [13]

Role models [14] Positive peer influence [15]

High expectations [16]

EMPOWERMENTEMPOWERMENT

Community values all people [07] People as resources [08]

Service to others [09] Safety [10]

SUPPORT

SUPPORTFamily support [01]

Positive family communication [02] Other adult relationships [03]

Caring neighbourhood [04] Caring school/work climate [05]

Family involvement in school/work [06]

Factors that a person has AROUND them that influence them

Developmental Assets: INTERNALCOMMITMENT TO LEARNING

Achievement motivation [21] Work/school engagement [22]

Personal study [23] Bonding to Work/school [24]

Reading for pleasure [25]

POSITIVE VALUESCaring [26]

Equality and social justice [27] Integrity [28] Honesty [29]

Responsibility [30] Restraint [31]

SOCIAL COMPETENCEPlanning and decision making [32]

Interpersonal competence [33] Cultural competence [34]

Resistance skills [35] Peaceful conflict resolution [36]

POSITIVE IDENTITYPersonal power [37]

Self-esteem [38] Sense of purpose [39]

Positive view of personal future [40]

Factors that a person has WITHIN them that influences them

HIGH LEVEL

MEDIUM LEVEL

LOW LEVEL

Developmental Assets: IN PRACTICE

Strategy planning and assessment, using the 8 sub-categories initially

Programme planning and assessment, using the 40 Developmental Assets

Day to day application of the Developmental Assets framework.

What it looks like on the ground:

- Activities done- How people interact with each other- The Language used- Signage to remind of the Assets List

Developmental Assets: 150 years old

Despite that the Developmental Assets framework was conceived over 20 years ago, the YMCA discovered something remarkable

NOTEABLY, whatever your group does, they will inadvertently and naturally be building Assets through their activities into people.

Now, armed with the framework, they use it to plan all their activities intentionally building Developmental

Assets into the lives of people - and not by accident

In plotting their organisations history of the past 150 years, they discovered they were already using the very same factors that are

identified in the framework.

Developmental Assets: YOU

As a point of fact, looking through the lens of the Development Assets framework, most of your activities

will already and naturally be participating in Asset building into the lives of those serving and those being served.

However, intentionally using the framework in all your activities will guarantee a greater impact and footprint.

Equally, by all that your Activites accomplish, the Developmental Assets framework can measure more

thoroughly their positive impacts.

The Developmental Assets Framework will help enable positive, nurturing and enduring relationships

Developmental Assets: Examples ...

Examples of Assets that will be found in activities

•Support (Family Support, Other Adult Relationships, Caring Neighbourhood)•Empowerment (Service to Others,

Safety) •Boundaries & Expectations (Sports boundaries, role models, high

expectations) •Constructive Use of Time (Youth programme, Faith Community)•Commitment to Learning (Achievement motivation) •Positive Value (Equality, Integrity, Honesty, Restraint, Responsibility)•Social Competence (Planning and decision making, Interpersonal skills, Peaceful conflict)•Positive Identity (Personal Power, Self Esteem, Sense of Purpose, Positive view of personal future)

Sports Activities

•Support (Other Adult Relationships, Caring Neighbourhood)•Empowerment (Community Values People, People as a Resource, Service

to Others, Safety) •Boundaries & Expectations (Neighbourhood boundaries, Role

Models, Positive Peer Influence) •Constructive Use of Time (Adult programme, Faith Community)•Commitment to Learning (Achievement motivation, Life

Engagement, Bonding to Community) •Positive Value (Caring, Equality and Social Justice, Integrity, Honesty, Restraint, Responsibility)•Social Competence (Interpersonal skills, Peaceful conflict, Resistence Skills)•Positive Identity (Personal Power, Self Esteem, Sense of Purpose, Positive view of personal future)

Social Justice Activities Care Activities•Support (Other Adult Relationships, Caring Neighbourhood)•Empowerment (Community Values People, People as a Resource, Service

to Others, Safety) •Boundaries & Expectations (Neighbourhood boundaries, Role Models, Positive Peer Influence, High

Expectations) •Constructive Use of Time (Adult programme, Faith Community)•Commitment to Learning (Achievement motivation, Life

Engagement, Bonding to Community) •Positive Value (Caring, Equality and Social Justice, Integrity, Honesty,, Responsibility)•Social Competence (Planning and Decision Making, Interpersonal skills, Cultural Competence)•Positive Identity (Personal Power, Self Esteem, Sense of Purpose)

Developmental Assets: Slotting it in...

Here is a suggestion how the implementation of the Developmental Assets framework could intentionally be slot into an organisations core activities:

BUILD TEAMS

WORKERS JOINS TEAMS

ACTIVITY TEAMSMOBILISED

ACTIVITY TEAMSACTIVE

ACTIVITY TEAMSTRAINED

(DEVELOPMENTALASSETS

INTRODUCTEDAS A WAY OF

SERVICE & LIFE * ) * TRAINING AND/OR RESOURCES

ACTIVITY TEAMSORGANISED

WORKERS RESPOND

ACTIVITY TEAMSDISMANTLED, BUT COMMUNITY CAN CARRY ON THE

WORK. (DEVELOPMENTAL

ASSETS TOOL * USED AS A

COMPASS FOR DIRECTION)ACTIVITY TEAMS

ASSESS THEIRIMPACT

(INCLUDING USAGE OF

DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS AS A

MEASURE)

YOUR GROUP