Developmental Assets are the 40 common sense supports, experiences, and behaviors that help ALL young people grow up to be healthy, caring, and contributing adults.The first 20 assets are called the External Assets because they focus on the positive experiences that young people receive from the people, institutions, and communities in their lives.
The 4 categories of External Assets are:
- Support
- Young people need support, care, and love from their families, neighbors and others. They need organizations and institutions that provide supportive, nurturing environments.
- Empowerment
- Young people need to be valued by their community and have opportunities to contribute to others. For this to occur, they must be safe and feel secure.
- Boundaries & Expectations
- Young people need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are "in bounds" or "out of bounds."
- Constructive Use of Time
- Young people need constructive, enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs, and involvement in the faith community.
The 4 categories of Internal Assets are:
- Commitment to Learning
- Young people need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.
- Positive Values
- Young people need to develop strong values that guide their choices.
- Social Competencies
- Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and succeed in life.
- Positive Identity
- Young people need a strong sense of their own power, purpose, worth, and promise.
