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<br />Mar 27 2007 8:56AM
<br />
<br />Change is
<br />possible, and
<br />the power rests
<br />in the people
<br />and places of
<br />community that
<br />join together
<br />to embrace,
<br />invest in, and
<br />engage with
<br />young people,
<br />
<br />- Peter BeJISOII, Ph.D.
<br />Prg&id~1l! 4
<br />5~ar~h 11l5Iifllt~
<br />
<br />Fargo Public Schools
<br />
<br />4461226
<br />
<br />1='. 16
<br />
<br />About Developmental Assets (cont/nuedfrom front)
<br />
<br />The Importance of Assets
<br />Search Institute's research shows that the more assets young people have, the less111<el}' they
<br />are eo engage in risky behaviors. In addltion, these common themes about the :nportllnce cf
<br />assets have emerged from numerous findings:
<br />
<br />· Assets promote academic success.
<br />· Assets divert youth from risky behaviors and i,lCl'ea$e dvlc. engagement.
<br />. Assets give young people. the Sf1'ilHgths t.hey Need to malu positive. cimices fH Ii(i!.
<br />. Across the United Statu-in big dries and slfUIll towns-most young people. now
<br />ilXpttie.nce. fewer than half of the 40 DevelopmeHtal Assets.
<br />
<br />Building Assets In Your Community
<br />We've included same resou:rces i:l tiis packet to help you and your community get star~ed
<br />with intentional asset building. Some of the basics are:
<br />
<br />. Learn more about the 40 Develcpmental l\SSe.::s and the communitie.s that have alreaci
<br />built successful initiatives. Search Institute's Web sice is a great source for information
<br />about published rtsources, :r;:linir.gs, and events' www.searcl1.instltute.org
<br />
<br />. Share the message of asset building. Tail<. to ITA groltp~, civiC organizations, nfighbots,
<br />congregation members, :realtors, businesses, $t,ldent ebbs-anyone interested in the YOL:th
<br />i:'l your community.
<br />
<br />. Gather together a group of peeple, i!1c1uding young people, who are wUJing to go
<br />C:e:eper with assets. Develop a vision of wbt your communll:Y would look like if
<br />Developmental ,A.ssets were being nurtured thro.j.ghou: the: community.
<br />
<br />The Power of Assets
<br />
<br />Research Findings
<br />On O::le level, the 40 Developmental Assets represent ;:cmtnon w~sdom about t..,e kinds d
<br />positive experiences and charactenstic$ that YO'Jng people need and dese!Vf, But their value
<br />extends further. S'.llVeys of almost 150,000 m.:dents in grades 6-12 reveal that assets are
<br />powerful influences on adolescent behavior, Regardless of gender, ethnic: heritage, economic
<br />situation. Or geogra?hic location, assets both pro:n.ote positive behaviors and at:i:udes a:1d
<br />help protect young people from many dlfferem problem behaviors
<br />
<br />To illustrate, thtse graphs sbow that young people w1th more B.sse:$ are less likely to engage
<br />in patterns of high-risk behavior and more likely to report havmg positive: attitudes and
<br />
<br />behaviors. Key: .O-10asse~ .11-20n5e~ III 21-3C~II.ts' 31-40asset$
<br />
<br />66%
<br />
<br />
<br />Promoting Positive BehtJvlors Qnd Attitud.,
<br />
<br />S9%
<br />1\'.
<br />76g~ ;~,f
<br />. ""~
<br />;:~!.
<br />..y;
<br />::>~
<br />
<br />48%
<br />
<br />..r'
<br />
<br />'1,:
<br />
<br />., ..
<br />,
<br />
<br />Exnlbits Leadership
<br />Has been a l!ladel ofa:'l Orilarizatlon
<br />or 9~Q~P II" the past 12 mQr"ti'ls.
<br />
<br />Protecting Youth From High-Risk Behaviors
<br />
<br />60%
<br />
<br />62%
<br />
<br />39%
<br />
<br />38%
<br />
<br />36%
<br />
<br />
<br />~8%
<br />
<br />6%
<br />1%
<br />
<br />Illicit Drug Use
<br />Lsed ilJ!dt Drugs (l'1l~r;jvana.coca,"..,
<br />LS::>, PCP or angel dU$t,nerol",or
<br />a'T1p"el<O:'l'Iln~SJ th(ee or more U""..
<br />ill the past 12 mOM!h~.
<br />
<br />
<br />18%
<br />
<br />
<br />Values Olver$ity
<br />Thinks It Is Impo(ta'lt to get to know
<br />people clother racl,l/ttl\nlc groups.
<br />
<br />Violenc:e
<br />
<br />Has engaged in torer or more a~ts
<br />of Ilghtin\l. hitting, inj",ing a persor,
<br />cau ying a weapon, or t~rutering
<br />p"y.ie.1 n.rm in the pa't 12 ,."onth,
<br />
<br />SnL1ICI!'; Jl1~ /'L~:Jt' App:oa()/ 40 E.ltl.'l'1I15 of rk.:tlr1w JJl~;;clo;:HIlI11,1.
<br />c:'~'P;.-'-'nh~ <~~lH:;':2. ~O(~~ 6;.' ~"'...~<::!", h.._"'''t~tJ~'''
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