External Assets

Asset Type

Asset Name

Definition

%

Support

1. Family support
.

- Family life provides high levels of love and support.

65

2. Positive family communication
.

- Young person and his or her 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 persons 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, school, and in the neighborhood.

Boundaries & 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 persons 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

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 his or her 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 his or her 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 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 non-violently.

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 his or her personal future.