All Children Thrive!www.ourkidsnetwork.ca

40 Developmental Assets

Positive experiences, relationships, opportunities and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy,

caring and responsible.

Based on research of the Search Institute in USA – www.search-institute.org

Researchers cumulatively surveyed over 3 million 6-12th graders

Identified 40 factors which are critical to positive child and youth development

Youth with higher amount of assets have lower levels of risk behaviours

Percentage of Students by the Number of Assets, Grades 7 and 10, Halton Region, 2009/10

7%

17%

23%

36%34%

45%

13%

24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Per

cen

tag

e o

f st

ud

ents

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20Number of Assets: Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10

Percentage of Students using Cannabis in the past 12 months by the Number of Assets, Halton Region, 2009/10

6%

48%

31%

2%

17%

1% 6%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Per

cen

tag

e o

f S

tud

ents

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20Number of Assets: Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10

Percentage of Students engaging in at least one Heavy Drinking Episode in the past 12 months by

the Number of Assets, Halton Region, 2009/10

54%

68%

21%

9% 5%

39%

2%

23%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

Stu

de

nts

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20Number of Assets:Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10

Percentage of Students that are Current Smokers by the Number of Assets, Halton Region, 2009/10

8%

33%

16%

1%

5%

1% 1%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Per

cen

tag

e o

f S

tud

ents

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20Number of Assets:Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10

Percentage of Students that are Physically Active* By the Number of Assets, Halton Region, 2009/10

46%

37%30%

36%42%

54%48%

65%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Per

cen

tag

e o

f S

tud

ents

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20Number of Assets:

* “Physically active” is defined as 90 mins or more of activity, 5 or more days per week* “Physically active” is defined as 90 mins or more of activity, 5 or more days per week

Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10

Percentage of Students Reporting Provincial Standard Achievement Level (Mostly A's and B's)

by the Number of Assets, Halton Region, 2009/10

83% 81%

60%67%

92%92%97%96%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Per

cen

tag

e o

f S

tud

ents

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20Number of Assets:Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10

Percent of Students Injured Seriously Enough to Require Medical Attention in the past 12 months by the Number of

Developmental Assets, Halton Region, 2009/10

43%

38%35%

30% 29%30% 30%27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Per

cen

tag

e o

f Stu

den

ts

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10Number of Assets:

Percent of Students that have had Serious Thoughts of Suicide (Sometimes, Often or Always) by the Number of

Developmental Assets, Halton Region, 2009/10

22%

28%

11%11%

4% 5%1% 2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Grade 7 Grade 10

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

Stu

de

nts

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20Source: Halton Youth Survey 2009/10

Number of Assets:

Percent of 12 & 15 Year Olds with High Levels of School Engagements by

Number of Developmental Assets

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

12 Years 15 Years

Percent of 12 & 15 year-olds Reporting they have a Family Meal at Least Once a Day by Number of Developmental Assets

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Grade 7 Grade 10

17

Assets are for all!

Assets have power for all children and youth, regardless of their gender, economic status,

family, or race/ethnicity

The average young person experiences fewer than half of the 40 assets, and boys experience

an average of three fewer assets than girls

Two Types of Assets

External

Relationships and opportunities that young people experience in their families, schools, and communities

Internal

Competencies and values that youth develop internally to guide behaviors and choices

Developmental Assets

The first four asset categories focus on externalexternal structures, relationships and

activities that create a positive environment for young people.

1. Support - need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate and accept.

2. Empowerment - need to feel valued and valuable. This happens when they feel safe and respected.

3. Boundaries and Expectations - need clear rules, consistent consequences for breaking rules and encouragement to do their best.

4. Constructive Use of Time - need opportunities to learn and develop new skills and interests with other youth and adults.

Developmental Assets

A community also needs to nurture the internalinternal qualities that guide choices and create a sense of

purpose and focus.

1. Commitment to Learning - need a sense of the lasting importance of learning and a belief in their own abilities.

2. Positive Values - need to develop strong guiding values or principles to help them make healthy life choices.

3. Social Competencies - need the skills to interact effectively to make difficult decisions, and to cope with new situations.

4. Positive Identity - need to believe in their own self-worth and to feel that they have control over the things that happen to them.

The Asset-Building Difference

From

Prescribed Programs Incidental Problems Troubled kids Work of professionals

To

Relationships

Intentional

Strengths

All kidsEveryone’s job

Working Togetherhift

From

Experimental Project Focused Shifting messages Cooperation Quick Fix

ToEvidence basedComprehensiveConsistencyPartnershipOngoing

Key messages

All kids need assets.

Everyone can build assets.

Relationships are key.

Asset building is an ongoing process.

Consistent messages are crucial.

Repetition is important.

Resources

www.search-institute.com

www.lionsquest.ca

www.ourkidsnetwork.ca

Thank you Search Institute!

Slides 4-5, 16, 18-25 used with permission as part of the Essentials of Asset Building Training of Trainers

workshop. Copyright © 2008 by Search Institute, 800-888-7828, www.search-institute.org/training.

All Children Thrive!www.ourkidsnetwork.ca