Build Assets to Help Youth Succeed - Handout 2

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1999 Volunteer Leadership Training Guide
Build Assets to Help Youth Succeed
The Power of Assets
Handout 2

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On one level, the 40 developmental assets represent everyday wisdom about positive experiences and characteristics for young people. In addition, Search Institute research has found that these assets are powerful influences on adolescent behavior - both protecting young people from many different problem behaviors and promoting positive attitudes and behaviors. This power is evident across all cultural and socioeconomic groups of youth. There is also evidence from other research that assets may have the same kind of power for younger children.

Protecting Youth from High-Risk Behaviors

Assets have tremendous power to protect youth from many different harmful or unhealthy choices. To illustrate, these charts show that youth with the most assets are least likely to engage in four different patterns of high-risk behavior.

Bar Chart showing Protecting Youth from High Risk Behaviors.

Problem Alcohol Abuse

0-10 Assets - 53%
11-20 Assets - 30%
21-30 Assets - 11%
31-40 Assets - 3%

Illicit Drug Use

0-10 Assets - 42%
11-20 Assets - 19%
21-30 Assets - 6%
31-40 Assets - 1%

Sexual Activity

0-10 Assets - 33%
11-20 Assets - 21%
21-30 Assets - 10%
31-40 Assets - 1%

Violence

0-10 Assets - 61%
11-20 Assets - 35%
21-30 Assets - 16%
31-40 Assets - 6%

Promoting Positive Attitudes and Behaviors

In addition to protecting youth from negative behaviors, having more assets increases the chances that young people will have positive attitudes and behaviors, as these charts show.

Bar Chart showing Promoting Postive Attitudes and Behaviors.

Succeeds in School

0-10 Assets - 7%
11-20 Assets - 19%
21-30 Assets - 35%
31-40 Assets - 53%

Values Diversity

0-10 Assets - 34%
11-20 Assets - 53%
21-30 Assets - 69%
31-40 Assets - 87%

Maintains Good Health

0-10 Assets - 25%
11-20 Assets - 46%
21-30 Assets - 69%
31-40 Assets - 88%

Delays Gratification

0-10 Assets - 27%
11-20 Assets - 42%
21-30 Assets - 56%
31-40 Assets - 72%

Source: Search Institute (1997) The asset approach: Giving kids what they need to succeed. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Author.

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1999 Volunteer Leadership Training Guide Build Assets to Help Youth Succeed The Power of Assets Handout 2

Protecting Youth from High-Risk Behaviors

Promoting Positive Attitudes and Behaviors

1999 Volunteer Leadership Training Guide
Build Assets to Help Youth Succeed
The Power of Assets
Handout 2