| Search Institute, an independent nonprofit educational organization, has identified 40 building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. They call these building blocks Developmental Assets.
Their asset definitions are based on research on adolescents (6th to 12th grades). Search Institute has surveyed over two million youth across the United States and Canada since 1989.
Studies reveal strong and consistent relationships between the number of assets present in young people’s lives and the degree to which they develop in positive and healthful ways. Results show that the greater the greater the number of developmental assets experienced by young people, the more positive and successful their development. The fewer the number of assets present, the greater the possibility youth will engage in risky behaviors such as drug use, unsafe sex, and violence.
The reality is that the average young person surveyed in the United States experiences only 18 of the 40 assets. Overall, 62% of young people surveyed have fewer than 20 of the 40 assets. In short, the majority of young people in this country--from all walks of life--are lacking in sufficient developmental assets needed for healthy development. These statistics, as well as the role assets play in predicting both positive and negative outcomes for youth, underscore the importance of the developmental asset framework and its application.
To view the 40 Developmental Assets, please click one of the following links: | |
