40 Developmental Assets

Printer-Friendly Developmental Assets Chart

The more assets youth have, the more likely they are to avoid drugs, alcohol, violence, teen pregnancy, and other risk behaviors.  Assets are cumulative, and more assets help protect youth from today’s threats and dangers.  Through surveys of over 1 million children, the Search Institute in Minnesota, has found that there are 40 Developmental Assets that determine whether a child will grow up to make good decisions.  What follows are those 40 Developmental Assets.

Support – Youth need to know they have people in their lives who support and love them (family, other adults, neighbors, schools, parent involvement).

• Family support

• Positive family communication

• Other adult relationships (from 3 or more non-parent adults)

• Caring neighborhood

• Caring school climate

•  Parent involvement in schooling

Empowerment – Youth need to feel valued, appreciated, and have chances to serve

• Community values youth

•  Youth as resources (role in community)

•  Service to others (one hour or more per week)

• Safety (at home, school, neighborhood)

Boundaries and Expectations – Youth need to know what their limits are

• Family boundaries

• School boundaries

• Neighborhood boundaries

• Adults as role models

•  Positive peer influence

•  High expectations

Constructive Use of Time – Youth need creative activities, youth programs, a faith community, and time at home.

• Creative activities (3 or more hours per week)

• Youth programs (3 or more hours per week)

• Religious community (1 or more hours per week)

• Time at home (at home without friends for two nights)

Commitments to Learning – Youth need to take school and learning seriously

• Achievement motivation

• School engagement

• Homework (1 hour per day)

• Bonding to school

• Reading for pleasure (3 or more hours per week)

Positive Values – Youth need to develop values such as caring, quality and justice, integrity, honesty, responsibility, and restraint.  

• Caring

• Equality and Justice

• Integrity

• Honesty

• Responsibility

• Restraint

Social Competencies – Youth need to develop the abilities to plan, make decisions, and resolve conflict peacefully.

• Planning and decision-making

• Interpersonal competence

• Cultural competencies

• Resistance skills

• Peaceful conflict resolution

Positive Identity – Youth need to know who they are and that they are valuable

•   Personal power (control over things that happen to them)

• Self-esteem

• Sense of purpose

• Positive about personal future