The 40 Assets

External Assets

Support

1. Family support

Family life provides high levels of love and support.

2. Positive family communication

Young person and parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek parent(s') advice and counsel.

3. Other adult relationships

Young person receives support from at least three non-parent adults.

4. Caring neighborhood

Young person experiences caring neighbors.

5. Caring school climate

School provides a caring, encouraging environment.

6. Parent involvement in schooling

Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.

Empowerment

7. Community values youth

Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.

8. Youth as resources

Youth as resources

9. Service to others

Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.

10. Safety

Young person feels safe at home, school and in the neighborhood.

Boundaries & Expectations

11. Family boundaries

Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts.

12. School boundaries

School provides clear rules and consequences.

13. Neighborhood boundaries

Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior.

14. Adult role models

Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.

15. Positive peer influence

Young person's best friends model responsible behavior.

16. High expectations

Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.

Constructive Use of Time

17. Creative activities

Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater or other arts.

18. Youth programs

Young person spends at least three hours per week in sports, clubs or organizations at school and/or in community organizations.

19. Religious community

Young person spends at least one hour per week in activities in a religious institution.

20. Time at home

Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week.

Internal Assets

Commitment to Learning

21. Achievement motivation

Young person is motivated to do well in school.

22. School engagement

Young person is actively engaged in learning.

23. Homework

Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.

24. Bonding to school

Young person cares about her or his school.

25. Reading for pleasure

Young person reads for pleasure at least three hours per week.

Positive Values

26. Caring

Young person places high value on helping other people.

27. Equality and social justice

Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.

28. Integrity

Young person acts on convictions and stands up for his/her beliefs.

29. Honesty

Young person tells the truth even when it is not easy.

30. Responsibility

Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.

31. Restraint

Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol/drugs.

Social Competencies

32. Planning & decision-making

Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.

33. Interpersonal competence

Young person has empathy, sensitivity and friendship skills.

34. Cultural competence

Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.

35. Resistance skills

Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.

36. Peaceful conflict resolution

Young person seeks to resolve conflict non-violently.

Positive Identity

37. Personal power

Young person feels he/she has control over "things that happen to me."

38. Self-esteem

Young person reports having high self-esteem.

39. Sense of purpose

Young person reports that "my life has a purpose."

40. Positive view of personal future

Young person is optimistic about his/her personal future.