WHAT IS ASSET DEVELOPMENT?

In an effort to identify the elements of a strength-based approach to healthy development, the Search Institute and the YMCA developed a framework of developmental assets. This framework identifies 40 critical factors for young people's growth and development. When drawn together, the assets offer a set of benchmarks for positive child and adolescent development. The assets clearly show important roles that families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods, youth organizations, and others in communities play in shaping young people's lives. They provide a powerful framework and lens for how YMCAs engage with children, youth, families, and communities.

External Assets

The first 20 developmental assets focus on positive experiences that young people receive from the people and institutions in their lives. Four categories of external assets are included in the framework:

· Support—Young people need to experience support, care, and love from their families, neighbors, and many others. They need organizations and institutions that provide positive, supportive environments.

· Empowerment—Young people need to be valued by their community and have opportunities to contribute to others. For this to occur, they must be safe and feel secure.

· Boundaries and expectations—Young people need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are "in bounds" and "out of bounds."

· Constructive use of time—Young people need constructive, enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs, congregational involvement, and quality time at home.

Internal Assets

A community’s or YMCA’s responsibility for its young does not end with the provision of external assets. There needs to be a similar commitment to nurturing the internal qualities that guide choices and create a sense of centeredness, purpose, and focus. Four categories of internal assets are included in the framework:

· Commitment to learning—Young people need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.

· Positive values—Youth need to develop strong values that guide their choices.

· Social competencies—Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and to succeed in life.

· Positive identity—Young people need a strong sense of their own power, purpose, worth, and promise.

What Are Assets for All Ages of Children and Youth?

Since 1989, our partners at Search Institute have measured developmental assets in almost 2 million 6th to 12th graders in communities across the United States. In addition, the institute has blended the literature on child development with the framework of assets for adolescents to identify parallel, developmentally appropriate sets of assets for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-age children. The institute is launching new, long-term research efforts to refine, measure, and test the asset frameworks for children of all ages.

Why Are Developmental Assets Important?

The framework of developmental assets is grounded in extensive research on child and adolescent development, resiliency, health promotion, prevention, and public health. Numerous researchers have found that these kinds of positive resources provide key sources of strength for children and youth.

In addition, through surveys of almost 2 million young people since 1990 from all types of communities and all cultural groups, Search Institute consistently finds that the more assets young people have, the better. The more assets young people have, the more likely they will grow up to be caring, competent, responsible young people. The more assets young people have, the better their chances for contributing to their society and finding a meaningful purpose in life. On average, young people with more assets:

· Engage in fewer negative, high-risk behaviors, such as using drugs and alcohol, being violent, and having premarital sex.

· Exhibit more positive, or thriving, behaviors, such as succeeding in school, exhibiting leadership qualities, and valuing diversity.

· Being resilient in the face of challenges, stresses, and difficult situations.

The challenge we face is that, according to the most current Search Institute research, the average young person surveyed has about 19 of the 40 assets. Furthermore, only 9 percent of the youth surveyed experiences at least 31 of the 40 assets.