The Developmental Asset Model is a comprehensive research-based philosophy dedicated to increasing healthy behaviors in all youth. During the 2003-04 school year, the Student Assistance Office in collaboration with Communities for Youth (community driven non-profit organization) will continue its quest to promote resiliency and protective factors for all Douglas County youth through the “40 Asset model”. For more information about assets and/or Communities for Youth please contact the Student Assistance Office.

External Assets

1. Family Support - Family Life provides high levels of love & support
2. Positive family communication - Young person and her or his 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 three or more 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
7. Community values youth - Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth
8. Youth as resources - Young person perceives that adults in the community value
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
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 model - 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
17. Creative activities - Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theatre, 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 community organizations
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

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 east one hour or 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
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 its 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
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 non-violently
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, “My life has a purpose”
40. Positive view of personal future - Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future