What Kids Need to Succeed: Asset Development
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The 40 Developmental Assets were established by the Search Institute as the positive experiences and qualities that can tremendously impact the life success a young person experiences. These assets are applicable to all youth from all walks of life.
The Youth Bureau has done asset studies twice in Genesee County. In the spring of 1999, 2,700 Genesee County youth were surveyed. Seventh and eighth graders were given the “America’s Promise; Search Institute Survey of Student Resources and Assets” survey; ninth, 10th, and 11th graders were given the “Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors.” In the spring of 2003, the surveys were administered again to the same grades. The responses from both years were analyzed separately and comparatively. Reports have been complied for the participating districts and are available at the Youth Bureau.
| External Assets |
| Interal Assets |
| Risk-Taking Behaviors |
| Thriving Indicators |
| Conclusion |
| Youth Bureau Home Page |
External Assets
Percent of Genesee County Youth Reporting Each of 20 External Assets
| Asset Type | Asset Name | Definition | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support | 1. Family support | Family life provides high levels of love and support | 65 |
| 2. Positive family Communication | Young person and his/her parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek parent (s') advice and counsel. | 37 | |
| 3. Other adult Relationships | Young person receives support from three or more non-parent adults. | 44 | |
| 4. Caring neighborhood | Young person experiences caring neighbors. | 44 | |
| 5. Caring school climate | School provides caring, encouraging environment. | 28 | |
| 6. Parent involvement in schooling | Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school. | 29 | |
| Empowerment | 7. Community values | Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth. | 22 |
| 8. Youth as resources | Young people are given useful roles in the community. | 22 | |
| 9. Service to others | Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week. | 46 | |
| 10.Safety | Young person feels safe at home, school and in the neighborhood. | 51 | |
| Boundaries and Expectations |
11.Family boundaries | Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts. | 46 |
| 12.School boundaries | School provides clear rules and consequences. | 55 | |
| 13.Neighborhood Boundaries | Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior. | 45 | |
| 14.Adult role models | Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior. | 28 | |
| 15.Positive peer influence | Young person's best friends model responsible behavior. | 59 | |
| 16.High expectations | Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well. | 48 | |
| Constructive Use of Time |
17.Creative activities | Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater or other arts. | 14 |
| 18.Youth programs | Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs or organizations at school and/or in community organizations. | 61 | |
| 19.Religious community | Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution. | 53 | |
| 20.Time at home | Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week. | 56 |
Internal Assets
Percent of Genesee County Youth Reporting Each of 20 Internal Assets
| Asset Type | Asset Name | Definition | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment to Learning |
21. Achievement Motivation | Young person is motivated to do well in school. | 67 |
| 22. School engagement | Young person is actively engaged in learning. | 56 | |
| 23. Homework | Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day. | 45 | |
| 24. Bonding in School | Young person cares about his/her school. | 51 | |
| 25. Reading for pleasure | Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week. | 20 | |
| Positive Values |
26. Caring | Young person places high value on helping other people. | 40 |
| 27. Equality and social Justice | Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty. | 42 | |
| 28. Integrity | Young person acts on convictions and stands up for his/her beliefs. | 57 | |
| 29. Honesty | Young person tells the truth even when it is not easy. | 58 | |
| 30.Responsibility | Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility. | 55 | |
| 31. Restraint | Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol & other drugs. | 43 | |
| Social Competencies |
32. Planning and Decision-making | Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices. | 26 |
| 33. Interpersonal Competence | Young person has empathy, sensitivity and friendship skills. | 46 | |
| 34. Cultural competence | Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds. | 39 | |
| 35. Resistance skills | Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations. | 40 | |
| 36. Peaceful conflict Resolution | Young person seeks to resolve conflict non-violently. | 40 | |
| Positive Identity |
37. Personal power | Young person feels he/she has control over "things that happen to me." | 43 |
| 38. Self-esteem | Young person reports having high self-esteem. | 45 | |
| 39. Sense of Purpose | Young person reports, "my life has purpose." | 55 | |
| 40. Positive view of Personal future | Young person is optimistic about his/her personal future. | 73 |
Thriving Indicators
Conversely, Thriving Indicators are attitudes and behaviors that demonstrate how successful a student is in his or her everyday life, including:
- Succeeding in school
- Maintaining good health
- Helping others
- Overcoming adversity
- Exhibiting leadership
- Valuing diversity
- Delaying gratification
Resisting danger
Risk-Taking Behaviors
Risk-Taking Behaviors include tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use, suicide, and school truancy. Our surveys in Genesee County indicated that the more assets a young person has, the less likely he or she will engage in the aforementioned behaviors. The Search Institute found the same correlation nationally, as noted by the charts below.
Number of Assets Reported
7th & 8th Grade
Risk-Taking Behavior |
1-10 |
11-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
Alcohol Use (last 30 days) |
63% |
38% |
15% |
4% |
Tobacco Use (last 30 days) |
55% |
24% |
9% |
2% |
Marijuana Use (last 30 days) |
44% |
17% |
3% |
0% |
Number of Assets Reported
9th, 10th, 11th Grade
Risk-Taking Behavior |
1-10 |
11-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
Alcohol Use (last 30 days) |
67% |
53% |
31% |
17% |
Tobacco Use (last 30 days) |
58% |
39% |
16% |
6% |
Marijuana Use (last 30 days) |
57% |
38% |
13% |
3% |
Conclusion
The preceding information is just a small sample of the data collected from the Search surveys. The Genesee County Youth Bureau is committed to exercising its knowledge about asset development in all its existing programs and services as well as making information available to others in the community. Our goal is to gradually increase the number of assets each young person has and lower the instances of risk-taking behaviors. We have many asset resources available for people to borrow and use in their own programs, and we can provide more detailed information about the survey upon request.
Youth Bureau Home Page
