25 Developmental Assets for Adolescents

(ages 12-18)

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 parents.

3.  Other adult relationships - Yound person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.

  4. Caring neighborhood - Yound 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 peole 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, school, and in the neighborhood.

Boundaries & Expectations

 11.  Family boundaries - Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors the young people's behavior.

 12.  School Boundaries - School provides clear rules and consequences.

 13.  Neighborhood boundaries - Neighbors take responsiblity 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, dances, theater, or other arts.

18.  Youth programs - Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or 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.

Commitment to Learning

  21.  Achievement Motivation - Young person is motivated to do well in school.

  22. school Engagement - Young person is activey engaged in learning.

23.  Homework - Yound person reports doing at least on 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.