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The Hopeful Message of the 40 Developmental Assets
Research from Search Institute identifies 40 Developmental
Assets that have a powerful, positive impact on young
people. Children and teenagers who have high levels
of these assets get involved in fewer risky behaviors
and are much more likely to exhibit the positive values,
such as leadership, good health, diversity, and success
in school. The bad news is most young people don’t
have enough assets. About 59 percent of young people,
ages 11–18, have 18 or fewer Developmental Assets,
according to Search Institute surveys. The
good news is we can change this because we all have
the power to build assets in young people’s lives.
Helping adults to recognize the power they have to impact
children’s lives for the better is the driving
force behind the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental
Assets framework. Click
here to learn more about the Search Institute and
the research behind "asset-building."
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) is
proud to partner with other district departments in
spearheading the district wide implementation of this
exceptional framework, which goes hand in hand with
the Social and Emotional Collaborative and other initiatives
already in place to increase the graduation rate and
ensure overall student success. For additional information,
contact SDFSC Coordinator, mailto:angie.mentz@springbranchisd.org
Understanding Developmental Assets
Search Institute has identified the following building
blocks of healthy development that help young people
grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Assets
are either internal or external. “External
assets” are what we hope are provided by the family,
school, and community. “Internal assets” are
what we hope are within every young person.
The eight asset categories include:
- Support: Young people need to be
surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate,
and accept them.
- Empowerment: Young people need
to feel valued and valuable. This happens when youth
feel safe and respected.
- Boundaries and Expectations: Young
people need clear rules, consistent consequences for
breaking rules, and encouragement to do their best.
- Constructive Use of Time: Young
people need opportunities—outside of school—to
learn and develop new skills and interests with other
youth and adults.
- Commitment to Learning: Young people
need a sense of the lasting importance of learning
and a belief in their own abilities.
- Positive Values: Young people need
to develop strong guiding values to help them make
healthy life choices.
- Social Competencies: Young people
need the skills to interact effectively with others,
to make difficult decisions, and to cope with new
situations.
- Positive Identity: Young people
need to believe in their own self-worth and to feel
they have control over the things that happen to them.
What are the 40 assets?
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