Asset Development Copyright 2014 by The University of

Developmental Assets: Positive characteristics and factors that form the foundation of the healthy development

Risky Behaviors and Situations • • Sex Violence Anti-social behavior Depression/suicide School problems Driving

Thriving Indicators • • School success Helping others Valuing diversity Good health Leadership Resistance to danger Delaying gratification Overcoming adversity Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

External Assets • • Support. Empowerment. Boundaries and expectations. Constructive use of time. Copyright

Internal Assets • • Commitment to learning Positive values Social competencies Positive identity Copyright

Characteristics of an Asset Development Effort • Demands a commitment from the whole community. • Should be participatory. • Should be based on what’s actually needed in the community. • Should focus on the positive. • Demands a coordinated, community-wide effort. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Support: External Asset Needed by Kids • • • Family support. Positive family communication. Other adult relationships. Caring neighborhood. Parental involvement in schooling. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Empowerment: External Asset Needed by Kids • • Community values in youth. Youth as

Boundaries and Expectations: External Assets Needed by Kids • • • Family boundaries. School boundaries. Neighborhood boundaries. Adult role models. Positive peer influence. High expectations. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Constructive Use of Time: External Assets Needed by Kids • • Creative activities Youth

Commitment to Learning: Internal Assets Needed by Kids • • • Achievement motivation. School

Positive Values: Internal Assets Needed by Kids • • • Caring Equality and social justice Integrity Honesty Responsibility Restraint Personal power Self-esteem Sense of purpose Positive view of personal future Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Advantages to the Asset Development Approach • • • It is based on extensive research. Encourages community buy-in. Makes tackling youth issues seem more possible. Each community develops its own scheme based on the assets it needs. Data can be analyzed in numerous ways. Aims at long-term social change. Healthy youth help foster a healthy community. Can address a broad range of issues. Can increase community cohesiveness. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Disadvantages to the Asset Development Approach • The data that assets are based on are limited to a largely white population and only youth. • There’s no clear guidance as to how to develop assets. • The community is dependent on Search Institute (or another entity, if you use a different system) to analyze surveys. • Small communities may not have large enough populations to identify assets and gaps accurately. • There is no guarantee that asset development will address the current problem. • Most adolescents do all right despite the fact that they don’t have the ideal number of assets. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

How do you use an asset development approach? • Someone has to take the initiative. • Form a coalition or other group to introduce asset development (and the idea of the survey/asset assessment) to the community. • Once the community agrees to pursue use of the survey, its logistics have to be worked out. • Implement the survey. • Analyze the report of the survey results. • Communicate your findings to the community. • Plan your next steps. • Present the plan to the community. • Continue to monitor, evaluate, and adjust new action plans, and to maintain the gains you’ve made. • Implement your initial action plan. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Who can take initiative? A pre-existing coalition. Civic officials or a civic agency. A parent group. A community-based or other non-profit organization. • A community-wide non-profit. • A faith-based organization or clergy association. • A business or business group. • • Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Questions to Anticipate Regarding Surveys • Who’s behind the survey? What are their credentials, where are they from? • What other communities have used the survey, and what did they do with it? • Is the survey anonymous and confidential? What will happen to the results after they are tabulated? Can people opt out? • What will this cost the community and how does that translate to the tax rate? • Who will be responsible for setting up the survey and transmitting, receiving, and publicizing the results? Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Examination of the Results Can Tell You: • Which assets are most often lacking for youth in your community. • Which risk factors are greatest for youth in your community. • Which groups of youth are at greatest risk in which areas. • Which thriving indicators are most often found, and among whom. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

Steps in the Planning Process • Convene a diverse, inclusive and participatory planning group representing all sectors of the community. • Determine what assets you’ll focus on • Do your research. • Develop a strategic plan for building assets. • Design an action plan. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas