Benson, P. et al. (March 9, 1998). New data shows that kids are not getting what they need to succeed. Search News Release. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Search Institute has developed 40 assets, or building blocks, that help young people grow into healthy, caring, and responsible adults. These "developmental assets" are broken down into "external assets" " ‘related to outside support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, and constructive use of time; and "internal assets" such as a commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity.’ " Healthy communities are places that provide these assets; effective programs and caring adults promote these assets. This approach attempts to look at young people and neighborhoods in terms of their positive potential, rather than their problems and needs.

This and other Search Institute research identifies

a strong relationship between the number of assets a young person possesses and the likelihood that the young person will engage in high-risk behavior. The youth with the most assets are least likely to engage in the four most common high-risk behaviors among youth: problem alcohol use, illicit drug use, sexual activity, and violence. For example, only 6 percent of the students surveyed who experience 31-40 assets engage in violence behavior, compared to 61 percent of students experiencing 0-10 of the 40 developmental assets.

In addition to protecting young people from negative behaviors, having more assets increases the likelihood that young people will have positive attitudes and behaviors. The four most common thriving behaviors are: maintaining good health, valuing diversity, delaying gratification, and succeeding in school. For example, 88 percent of the students who experience 31-40 of the assets pay attention to healthy nutrition and exercise, while on 25 percent experiencing 0-10 of the assets do so.

This study is encouraging in that it shows that most young people report themselves as having what other studies have found to be the most important assets in avoiding serious trouble. Yet, it also shows that many young people lack resources to promote growth and ensure success.

DESIGN

This particular study is a report of a survey administered to 100,000 6th to 12th grade youth in 213 U.S. towns and cities.

FINDINGS

According to the survey results, only 8 percent of the youth surveyed experience at least 31 of the 40 assets, and less than half of the young people surveyed experience 25 of the 40 assets.

The most commonly experienced assets are asset #1, family support, in which family life provides high levels of love and support; asset #19, religious community, in which the young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution; asset #22, school engagement, in which the young person is actively engaged in learning; and asset #40, positive view of the future, in which the young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.

The assets experienced by the least number of youth surveyed include asset #7, community values youth, in which the young person perceives that adults in the community value youth; asset #5, caring school climate, in which the school provides a caring, encouraging environment; asset #25, reading for pleasure, in which the young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week; asset #17, creative activities, in which the young persons spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.

CONCLUSIONS

According to Peter Benson, director of Search Institute and this study:

Too few young people are experiencing most of these essential building blocks of positive development. The data from the survey helps us to understand what young people need and allows us to focus on solutions rather than problems.

Our kids need us. The findings from this survey send a strong message that we as a society need to focus more on our young people and their development. We are not doing enough to ensure that our youth are getting what they need to succeed.

Overall, assets are in short supply. But that doesn’t mean our youth are doomed. There are practical, simple things we can do as individuals and as a community to rebuild the foundation of developmental assets. The key point to remember is that we all need to take responsibility for our nation’s youth. We all have a role to play in their development.

CRITIQUE AND EVALUATION

Search Institute seems to be on a positive course in promoting healthy young people in healthy communities. The major critique that has been raised, and this critique may also apply to this study, is that the Healthy Kids Healthy Communities program seems to be aimed and marketed more for middle class than inner-city kids and neighborhoods. The most commonly experienced assets in this study are precisely those lacking in many inner-city neighborhoods.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. What most impresses you with in this article? What do you most want to question or discuss?
2. Consider the young people in your neighborhood, town, or youth program. How do you think they would have come out in a survey such as this? In particular, how would they have scored on the most commonly experienced and least experienced assets under "Findings" above?
3. How can you use this in your youth work?
4. Are you in touch with Search Institute and aware of their resources?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Strategies for working with youth at risk must move from a crisis mentality and negative approaches to positive approaches that bring all the resources of a community—including its families, schools, programs and churches (synagogues and temples)—to bear on the healthy development of our young people.
2. Young people must perceive that they are a valuable community asset and that their contributions are needed to ensure safety and growth.
3. Another important positive feature in Search Institute’s programs are that they provide evaluation of our efforts with youth. Most youth programs have not had mechanisms for evaluation, and this is one reason many have not continued.

Dean Borgman cCYS