40 Developmental Assets
What are the 40 Assets?
The Search Institute has identified 40 Developmental Assets, a set of essential building blocks that all young people need to help them live healthy, happy lives. The more assets a young person has, the less likely they are to engage in problem behaviors.
- Search Institute Handout: 40
Assets
- Developmental Assets for Adolescents (12-18)
- Link to Developmental Assets Lists
YOU have the power of assets.
Everyone can be an asset builder! Here are some tips how you can build assets right where you are:
- Have a regular family night to do something fun together
- Model coping skills when difficult situations arise
- Write down what you believe; post it where you'll see it often
- Believe that youth and adults want to learn
- Set boundaries and explain the values behind them
- Encourage passion and interests in others
- Borrow eggs from a neighbor
- Learn about your own cultural heritage and share it
- Vow to say one encouraging thing to someone each day
- Listen when young people talk about their sense of purpose in life
- Teach young people how to be safe where ever they go
- Be the role model that you want your kids and your co-workers to be
- Reflect on one good thing that happened each day and share it with others
Asset-building affirmations
- I know and use the names of people ? young and old- regularly when I see them.
- I focus daily on all people's gifts and talents.
- I help youth use their strengths to overcome their deficits.
- I regularly encourage other adults in my community to build assets with young people.
- When young people are in trouble, I begin my interactions with them by focusing on their strengths.
- I'm expanding my positive influence by pursuing relationships with young people I don't know.
- At lease once a week, I do something for or with people that goes beyond their normal expectations.
- I work hard to maintain relationships with people with whom I am already connected.
- I have high expectations for myself, my fellow community members, and young people in my community.
- I take the time to listen when people speak with me.
- I take the initiative in engaging with people positively.
- I smile at and make eye contact with any person ?young or old- as I go about my day.
- I believe that my power as an asset builder comes from the relationships that I develop with people.
- I engage people of all ages positively where ever I go.
Adapted with permission from Pass It On! Ready-to-Use Handouts for Asset Builders. Copyright ã 1999 by Search InstituteSM, Minneapolis, MN; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved.
Read about Assets in Lane County!
From September 2005 to September 2006, the Eugene Register-Guard featured articles on assets written by fellow Lane County community members. For these published stories, visit the Assets Archive.