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Developmental Assets

  • The Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets® are common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.
  • Search Institute’s research indicates that Developmental Assets powerfully influence adolescent behavior—both by protecting young people from risky, problem behaviors and by promoting positive attitudes and choices.
  • That is why United Way of Inner Wisconsin partners with Search Institute to survey our local youth, and then use the results to identify gaps in services focused on helping Children and Youth Succeed, one of our Vision Areas.  Please see below for the results of our most recent survey, conducted in winter 2007 - spring 2008. 
  • To learn more about the 40 Developmental Assets® and how to incorporate them into your child's day to day activities, please visit the Search Institute's website by clicking  here. 

 

The 40 Developmental Assets

  • External Assets
    • 1. Family Support – Family life provides high levels of love and support.
    • 2. Positive family communication – Young person and his or her parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parents.
    • 3. Other adult relationships – Young person receives support from three or more nonparent 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 monitors the young person’s whereabouts.
    • 12. School boundaries – School provides clear rules and consequences.
    • 13. Neighborhood boundaries – neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young person’s behavior.
    • 14. Adult role models – Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
    • 15. Positive peer influence – Young person’s closest friends model responsible behavior.
    • 16. High expectations – Both parent(s) and teachers encourage young person to do well.
    • 17. Creative activities – Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice 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 or in 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.
  • 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 spends at least one hour per day doing homework.
    • 24. Bonding to school – young person cares about his or her school.
    • 25. Reading for pleasure – Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours 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 his or her beliefs.
    • 29. Honesty – Young person tells the truth, even when it is not easy.
    • 30. Responsibility – Young person accepts and takes responsibility.
    • 31. Restraint – Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or use alcohol or other drugs.
    • 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 many people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
    • 35. Resistance skills – Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
    • 36. Peaceful conflict resolution – Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
    • 37. Personal power – Young person feels he or she has control over things that happen to him or her.
    • 38. Self-esteem – Young person reports having a high self-esteem.
    • 39. Sense of purpose – Young person reports that his or her life has purpose and meaning.
    • 40. Positive view of personal future – Young person is optimistic about his or her personal future.

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