What are developmental assets?

Developmental assets are factors that can help youth throughout childhood and adolescence. These assets are an important part of healthy development, the more assets a child has, the more likely youth will make positive choices, excel in school, and stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Internal Assets: Internal assets exist within each youth, including strengths, and values. These assets influence the choices and decisions a young person makes.

External Assets: External assets are experiences that surround. Positive developmental experiences include support, empowerment, setting boundaries and expectations.

To learn more about how parents can strengthen their relationship with their children and therefore increase their number of assets, visit the Search Institute’s website Keep Connected.

Types of Assets

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Support	Empowerment	Boundaries and Expectations	Constructive Use of Time	Commitment to Learning	Positive Values	Social Competencies
High levels of love and support from family	Youth feel valued in the community	Family sets clear rules and consequences and monitor youth	Youth spends time practicing music, theater, or arts	Youth are motivated to do well in school and actively engaged in learning	Youth value helping others, promoting equality, and reducing hunger and poverty	Youth plan ahead and make choices
Youth and parents have strong communication	Youth have meaningful roles in the community	School has clear rules and consequences	Youth spend time in sports, clubs, or organizations	Youth do at least one hour of homework every day	Youth stand up for his or her beliefs	Youth have empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills
Youth has support from three or more adults that are not parents	Youth regularly serve the community	Neighbors are responsible for monitoring youth’s behavior	Youth spend time in religious institutions	Youth cares about his or her school	Youth tell the truth, even when it is difficult	Youth has knowledge of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds
School is an encouraging environment and parents are engaged in school success	Youth feel safe at home, school and in their neighborhood	Parents and other adults and positive, responsible role models	Youth is not often “out with friends with nothing special to do”	Youth reads for pleasure at least three hours per week	Youth accept and take personal responsibility	Youth can resist peer pressure and dangerous situations
Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school		Youth’s friends exhibit responsible behavior			Youth do NOT believe it is important to use alcohol or other drugs	Youth can resolve conflict without violence
Young person is willing to seek parent(s) advice and counsel		Family and teachers encourage youth to do well			Youth report high self esteem and “my life has a purpose”
Young person experiences caring neighbors					Youth feel he or she has control over “things that happen to me”

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The above table contains examples of some factors in young people's lives identified by the Search Institute as increasing the likeliness that a young person grows up healthy, caring, and responsible. The material in this table was adapted from the Search Institute, Thresher Square West, 700 South Third Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

Building Assets in Youth

Everyone in the community can help to build developmental assets in youth! Here's some examples of how! (Adapted from the Search Institute, Thresher Square West, 700 South Third Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415).