Building Developmental Assets - November 2011

What are Developmental Assess?
Youth development research indicates youth need opportunities to contribute to their communities in safe, meaningful, and healthy ways. Research also tells us that if youth have an underlying background of family and community support they will be more likely to make good choices about unsafe behavior.

The Search Institute -a nonprofit organization that conducts practical research benefiting children and youth - has identified the building blocks of young people’s successful growth and development. These 40 “developmental assets” provide a common framework by which parents, caregivers, schools and the community can support youth. The Search Institute bases their work on the fact that all children and youth need support, opportunities, boundaries, expectations, and structure.

Research by the Search Institute confirms that strengthening developmental assets promotes academic achievement and reduces high risk behaviors. Community leaders and youth serving providers in Milford have embraced this framework as a way to nurture and mold the commitments, values, skills, and positive identity children need in order to grow up healthy and responsible.

The Attitudes and Behaviors Survey
Over 2 million youth ages 12-18 in urban, suburban and rural communities have answered questions about their thoughts on school climate, parent and school expectations, their use of structured and unstructured time and their behaviors in general, to help adults better understand the youth experience in their communities. The Attitudes and Behaviors Survey (A&B) assesses risks and “assets” to help kids succeed in school and in life. The more of these 40 developmental assets young people possess the less likely they are to get involved in problem behaviors such as substance use, early sexual activity and violence. Along the same lines, young people with many assets are much more likely to make positive choices, exhibit leadership qualities, maintain good health, value diversity, and succeed in school.

Community Support
The leading supporter of the Developmental Assets Framework in Milford is The Juvenile Advocacy Group (JAG) comprised of most youth serving organizations in the community. JAG was instrumental in conducting training in September 2011 through CHNA 6 on Developmental Assets Across the Age Spectrum. JAG has piloted the Attitudes and Behaviors Survey to 100 youth at the Milford Youth Center’s Find Yourself Friday Program. Find Yourself Fridays is an example of Developmental Assets in action. JAG has also invited the Director of Youth Ambassadors Program from South Boston Community Health Center to speak on Engaging Youth through Promoting Developmental Assets this December.

Taking Action
Parents and schools play a key role in building assets in a young person’s life. Whatever the age of the child, it is never too early or too late to start building the foundation a young person needs to succeed. All of us are engaged in many of the asset-building activities already. One goal is to match the areas where youth require more support with activities and evidence- based programs that promote these assets. For example, engaging kids in collecting emergency supplies for storm victims, collecting food for the local food pantry, participating in community clean- ups or creating art installation are some of the ways to promote assets. Schools can engage students in ways to promote achievement and connection through strong linkages with caring adults at school, promoting school pride and club participation to name a few. Parents can promote homework time with their children and participate themselves on civic and school projects. A full list of examples is on the Search Institute website http://www.search-institute.org/content/40-developmental-assets-adolesce...

We welcome your participation! For further information or to become involved with Milford’s efforts please contact Amy Leone at Community Impact communityimpactinc@gmail.com