The 42 Developmental Assets are the framework for our focus on the positive growth and development of each and every child in our community! We understand there is a strong correlation between being asset builders and having academic and life success.
External Assets (Supports)
Support
1. Family Support - Family life provides high levels of love and support.
2. Positive Family Communication - Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).
3. Other Adult Relationships - Young person receives support from three or more nonparent 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 - Young people are given useful roles in the community.
9. Service to Others - Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.
10. Safety - Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
Boundaries and 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 three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in the community.
19. Religious Community - Young person spends one or more hours 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 (Strengths)
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 three or more 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 her or his 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 or other drugs.
Social Competencies
32. Planning and 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 nonviolently.
Positive Identity
37. Personal Power - Young person feels he or she has control over “things that happen to me.”
38. Self-Esteem - Young person reports having a 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 her or his personal future.
West Carrollton School District Gateway Assets
41. Self-Discipline.
42. Grit.