This document discusses the 40 developmental assets, which were developed by the Search Institute to identify qualities youth need to thrive. It provides an overview of the 40 assets grouped into external and internal categories related to support, empowerment, boundaries & expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. Participants were instructed to take the developmental asset checklist quiz themselves. The discussion covered applying the assets through youth ministry, asset mapping to redevelop communities in a positive way, and exegeting one's own community to understand its current state and direction.

1. Community Engagement: Session 1
Understanding the 40 Developmental
Assets

2. Scripture: The child Jesus, full of potential
• Luke 2:40
• The child grew and became strong; he was full
of wisdom, and the grace of God was upon
him.

3. Scripture: The Great Commission applies to all
• Matthew 28:19-20
• Development of young people is not just a
nice thing, a good thing if it happens
• Development of young people must be
expected
• It must be expected because much is required
of our young people

5. The 40 Developmental Assets: Where did they come from?
• Developed by the Search Institute
• Search Institute researches positive youth
development
• Emphasis on qualities that young people need
to avoid risks and to thrive
• Grounded in extensive research

6. The 40 Developmental Assets
External Assets > SUPPORT
1. _____: Family life provides high levels of love and support.
2. _____: Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate
positively, and young person is willing to seek parent’s advice and
counsel.
3. _____: Young person receives support from three or more
nonparent adults.
4. _____: Young person experiences caring neighbors.
5. _____: School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
6. _____: Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person
succeed in school.

7. The 40 Developmental Assets
External Assets > EMPOWERMENT
7. _____: Young person perceives that adults in the
community value youth.
8. _____: Young people are given useful roles in the
community.
9. _____: Young person serves in the community
one hour or more per week.
10. _____: Young person feels safe at home, at
school, and in the neighborhood.

8. The 40 Developmental Assets
External Assets > BOUNDARIES & EXPECTATIONS
11. _____: Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors the
young person’s whereabouts.
12. _____: School provides clear rules and consequences.
13. _____: Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young
people’s behavior.
14. _____: Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible
behavior.
15. _____: Young person’s best friends model responsible behavior.
16. _____: Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to
do well.

9. The 40 Developmental Assets
External Assets > CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME
17. _____: Young person spends three or more hours per
week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.
18. _____: Young person spends three or more hours per
week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in
community organizations.
19. _____: Young person spends one or more hours per week
in activities in a religious institution.
20. _____: Young person is out with friends “with nothing
special to do” two or fewer nights per week.

10. The 40 Developmental Assets
Internal Assets > COMMITMENT TO LEARNING
21. _____: Young person is motivated to do well in school.
22. _____: Young person is actively engaged in learning.
23. _____: Young person reports doing at least one hour of
homework every school day.
24. _____: Young person cares about her or his school.
25. _____: Young person reads for pleasure three or more
hours per week.

11. The 40 Developmental Assets
Internal Assets > POSITIVE VALUES
26. _____: Young person places high value on helping other people.
27. _____: Young person places high value on promoting equality and
reducing hunger and poverty.
28. _____: Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or
his beliefs.
29. _____: Young person “tells the truth even when it is not easy.”
30. _____: Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.
31. _____: Young person believes it is important not to be sexually
active or to use alcohol or drugs.

12. The 40 Developmental Assets
Internal Assets > SOCIAL COMPETENCIES
32. _____: Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
33. _____: Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
34. _____: Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of
different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
35. _____: Young person can resist negative peer pressure and
dangerous situations.
36. _____: Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.

13. The 40 Developmental Assets
Internal Assets > POSITIVE IDENTITY
37. _____: Young person feels he or she has control over
“things that happen to me.”
38. _____: Young person reports having a high self-
esteem.
39. _____: Young person reports that “my life has a
purpose.”
40. _____: Young person is optimistic about her or his
personal future.

14. Activity: TAKE THE TEST YOURSELF
• While the Asset Development Checklist is
developed for young people, fill out this
checklist based on who you are today

15. Application
What is one asset that is a part of your youth
ministry that you are exercising well?
What is one asset that your youth ministry
needs to implement this week?

16. Asset Mapping
Community Asset Mapping is a capacity-focused
way of redeveloping devastated communities.
This positive approach is proposed as a
substitute for the traditional deficits focus on
a community’s needs and problems.

17. Tools Used in Asset Mapping
• Community Visioning
• Charettes
• Appreciative Inquiry
• Strategic Planning

19. Exegeting Your Community
• Exegete: Explanation of critical interpretation
• Applied to your community
• Get out into your community – find out where
why things are there and where they are going
• Next session on 8 Forms of Capital