40 Developmental Assets We Can Give Our Children

A Summary: The 40 Developmental Assets Framework From GeorgetownCARES The 40 Developmental Assets are positive experiences, relationships, opportunities, and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. The Framework is grounded in research on child and adolescent development, risk prevention, and resiliency. Assets are easy to build! Asset building is about relationships—anyone can do it. You can make a difference and help a young person succeed! Research shows that the more assets young people have, the less likely they are to engage in risky behaviors. Assets 1) promote academic success, 2) divert youth from risky behaviors and increase civic engagement, 3) give young people the strengths they need to make positive choices in life. Across the United States, in big cities and in small towns, most young people now experience fewer than half of the 40 Developmental Assets. Those youth have an 18-38% chance of illicit drug use. Youth with more than 20 assets have a 1-6% chance of illicit drug use. Assets make a difference! The 40 Developmental Assets for Grades 6-12 EXTERNAL Support: family support, positive family communication, other adult relationships, caring neighborhood, caring school climate, parent involvement in schooling. Empowerment: community values youth, youth have useful roles, service to others, feels safe. Boundaries & Expectations: family boundaries, school boundaries, neighborhood boundaries, adult role models, positive peer influence, high expectations. Constructive Use of Time: creative activities, youth programs, religious community, time at home. INTERNAL Commitment to learning: Achievement motivation, school engagement (active learning), homework (reports doing at least 1 hour per day), bonding to school (cares about school), reading for pleasure. Positive Values: Caring, equality and social justice, integrity (acts on convictions, stands up for beliefs), honesty, responsibility (takes personal), restraint (believes in avoiding risky behavior). Social Competencies: planning and decision making, interpersonal competence (empathy, sensitivity), cultural competence (comfortable with differences), resistance skills (to peer pressure and dangerous situations), peaceful conflict resolution. Positive Identity: personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, positive view of personal future. America’s Promise-The Alliance for Youth has identified and promoted these Five Promises we need to make to our children: 1) Caring Adults, 2) Safe Places and Constructive Use of Time, 3) A Healthy Start and Healthy Development, 4) Effective Education for Marketable Skills and Lifelong Learning, 5) Opportunities to Make a Difference through Helping Others. The Five Action Strategies for Transforming Communities and Society Creating a World Where All Young People Are Valued and Thrive 1. Engage Adults – To develop sustained, strength-building relationship with youth. 2. Mobilize Young People – To use their power as asset builders and change-makers. 3. Activate Sectors – To create an asset-building culture, contributing to youth development. 4. Invigorate Programs– Expand/enhance programs to become asset rich & accessible to youth. 5. Influence Civic Decisions–Leverage financial, media, and policy resources to support youth. The Search Institute at www.search-institute.org Our Mission: To provide leadership, knowledge and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities. 615 First Ave. NE, Suite 125, Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-888-7828