1. Family Support- Family life provides high levels of love and support.
2. Positive Family Communication-Young person and her or his parents(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
non- parent adults.
4. Caring Neighborhood-Young person experiences caring neighbors.
5. Caring School Climate- School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
6. Parent Involvement in School- Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young
person succeed in school.
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.
11. Family Boundaries- Family has clear rules and consequences and monitor the
young person's whereabouts
12. School Boundaries- School provides clear rules and consequences.
13. Neighborhood Boundaries- Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring the
young person's behavior.
14. Adult Role Model- Parent(s) and other adults model positive and responsible behavior.
15. Positive Peer Influence-Young person's best friend models responsible behavior.
16. High Expectations- Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person
to do well.
17. Creative Activities- Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons
or practice or 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 the community.
19. Religious Community-Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities
in a religious institution.
20. Time at Home-Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week.
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 her or his 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.
Do you ever wonder why some kids seems to grow up with ease while others struggle?
Are you surprised that some kids thrive in spite of difficult circumstances?
Search Institute is a nonprofit research organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that has been asking these same questions since 1958. Through studies involving hundreds of thousands of young people across the country. Search Institute has found 40 factors that are essential to young people's success. They call these 40 factors developmental assets. These assets aren't financial. Instead, they are opportunities, skills, relationship, values, and self-perceptions that all young people need in their lives.
The assets are both external (things that other people provide for youth) and internal (things that develop within young people themselves).There are four categories of external assets and four categories of internal assets.
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 one hour of homework every school day.
24. Bonding to School-Young person cares about her or his school.
25. Reading for Pleasure-Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
External Assets
Internal Assets
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 danger situations.
36. Peaceful Conflict Resolution-Young person seeks to resolve conflict non-violently.
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 a purpose."
40. Positive View of Personal Future-Young person is optimistic about her
or his personal future.
The 40 Developmental Assets
A United Way participating agency.
P.0. Box 581, West Burlington, Iowa 52655 (319-752-6027)
positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).
