Youth Services

Developmental Assets Survey

What are Developmental Assets?
Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.  

The Developmental Asset framework is categorized into two groups of 20 assets. External assets are the positive experiences young people receive from the world around them. These 20 assets are about supporting and empowering young people, about setting boundaries and expectations, and about positive and constructive use of young people's time. External assets identify important roles that families, schools, congregations, neighbourhoods, and youth organizations can play in promoting healthy development.

The twenty internal assets identify those characteristics and behaviours that reflect positive internal growth and development of young people. These assets are about positive values and identities, social competencies, and commitment to learning. The internal Developmental Assets will help these young people make thoughtful and positive choices and, in turn, be better prepared for situations in life that challenge their inner strength and confidence (http://www.search-institute.org/assets/).  

The Developmental Assets Profile (DAP)
The Developmental Assets Profile (DAP) provides an individual assessment of an young person’s Developmental Assets within the context of the four External Asset Categories (Support, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations, Constructive Use of Time), the four Internal Asset Categories (Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies, Positive Identity), as well as within five social contexts (Personal Assets, Social Assets, Family Assets, School Assets, and Community Assets).

How will Developmental Assets be used?
The Youth Development Strategy is an asset-building framework and builds upon key developmental areas that are fundamental elements in developing resilient and healthy young people. Asset building breaks new ground in policy and planning by shifting the focus of support from looking at ‘what's wrong’ to looking at ‘what is needed’ to enhance and support young people’s lives.

This Strategy advocates for ‘developmental assets’ to be considered in all aspects of the planning and delivery of a community response to the support of young people.

The Port Phillip Youth Development Strategy will be the cornerstone of Council's commitment to young people and establish a supportive framework for collaborative and effective youth support across the community.

More information 
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