What Are Assets?

The Search Institute has identified 40 "Building Blocks for Healthy Youth Development" that cause youth to thrive, and be more likely to become healthy, caring, responsible individuals.  Assets are 40 strengths young people need to become healthy, caring adults.  They are opportunities, skills, values, and self-perceptions.  The more Assets youth have, the more they thrive, do well in school, and make wise decisions; the less Assets, the more likely youth will engage in high risk behavior.

"Youth who have 31-40 Assets have only a 3% likelihood of using alcohol and only a 1% likelihood of using illicit drugs.  They are 53% more likely to succeed in school and 88% more likely to maintain good health."      

1 Family support

2 Positive family communication

3 Other adult relationships

4 Caring neighborhood

5 Caring school climate

6 Parent involvement in schooling

7 Community values youth

8 Youth as resources

9 Service to others

10 Safety

11 Family boundaries

12 School boundaries

13 Neighborhood boundaries

14 Adult role models

15 Positive peer influence

16 High expectations

17 Creative activities

18 Youth programs

19 Religious community

20 Time at home

21 Achievement motivation

22 School engagement

23 Homework

24 Bonding to school

25 Reading for pleasure

26 Caring

27 Equality and social justice

28 Integrity

29 Honesty

30 Responsibility

31 Restraint

32 Planning and decision making

33 Interpersonal competence

34 Cultural competence

35 Resistance skills

36 Peaceful conflict resolution

37 Personal power

38 Self-esteem

39 Sense of purpose

40 Positive view of personal future