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Social Responsibility

40 Developmental Assets

The 40 Developmental Assets are building blocks for healthy, happy and engaged children. Developed by the Search Institute, the New Canaan YMCA promotes these assets which enable young people to develop into successful and contributing adults.

EXTERNAL ASSETS

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 | Young person receives support from three or more nonparent 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 the child succeed in school.
  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.

EMPOWERMENT

  1. Family Boundaries | Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors the young person’s whereabouts.
  2. School Boundaries | School provides clear rules and consequences.
  3. Neighborhood Boundaries | Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people’s behavior.
  4. Adult Role Models | Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
  5. Positive Peer Influence | Young person’s best friends model responsible behavior.
  6. High Expectations | Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.
  7. Creative Activities | Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.
  8. Youth Programs | Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in community organizations.
  9. Religious Community | Young person spends one hour or more per week in activities in a religious institution.
  10. 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

  1. Achievement Motivation | Young person is motivated to do well in school.
  2. School Engagement | Young person is actively engaged in learning.
  3. Homework | Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.
  4. Bonding to School | Young person cares about her or his school.
  5. Reading for Pleasure | Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.

POSITIVE VALUES

  1. Caring | Young Person places high value on helping other people.
  2. Equality and Social Justice | Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.
  3. Integrity | Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.
  4. Honesty | Young person “tells the truth even when it is not easy.”
  5. Responsibility | Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.
  6. Restraint | Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.

SOCIAL COMPETENCIES

  1. Planning and Decision Making | Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
  2. Interpersonal Competence | Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
  3. Cultural Competence | Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
  4. Resistance Skills | Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
  5. Peaceful Conflict Resolution | Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.

POSITIVE IDENTITY

  1. Personal Power | Young person feels he or she has control over “things that happen to me.”
  2. Self-Esteem | Young person reports having a high self-esteem.
  3. Sense of Purpose | Young person reports that “my life has a purpose.”
  4. Positive View of Personal Future | Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.

 

This list is an educational tool. It is not intended to be nor is it appropriate as a scientific measure of the developmental assets of individuals.

Copyright © 1997, 2007 by Search Institute. All rights reserved. This chart may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial use only (with this copyright line).

Learn more about the assets at www.searchinstitute.org.

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  • Youth Development Programs
    • Bouncing Bears & Beyond
      • Bouncing Bears: Ages 1-5
      • Grade School Gymnastics: Ages K-7+ Years
      • Rhythmic Gymnastics: Ages 4-6 Years & 7+ Years
      • Bouncing Bears Open Gym: Ages 4 & Under
    • Child Development
      • Rainbow Station Preschool
      • Kids Unlimited After-School Program
      • My Playroom On-Site Babysitting
    • Competitive Aquatics
      • Caimans Swim Team
      • Aquianas Synchronized Swimming Team
      • Whirlwind Diving
    • Family Time
      • Adventure Guides
      • Family Wellness
      • Family Events
    • School Vacation Camp
    • Summer Camp
      • Camp Mini
      • Camp Y-Ki
      • Sports Camp
      • Counselor-in-Training (C.I.T.)
      • YSN Summer Camps
      • Synchronized Swimming Camp
    • Youth Education & Leadership
      • Red Cross Babysitting Certification
      • Red Cross Lifeguard Courses
      • Youth Leadership Programs
    • Youth Recreation
    • Youth Sports & Wellness
      • Youth Sports
      • Youth Wellness
      • Girls on the Run
    • Youth Water Activities
      • Parent-Child Swim Classes
      • Preschool Swim Classes
      • School-Age Swim Classes
      • Red Cross Lifeguard Courses
      • Water Polo
    • YSN Special Needs
  • Healthy Living Programs
    • Adult Health, Well-being & Fitness
      • Wellness Center
      • The Zone
      • Personal Fitness
      • Group Fitness
    • Adult Healthy Lifestyles
      • LIVESTRONG at the YMCA
      • Nutritional Counseling at the New Canaan YMCA
    • Adult Sports & Recreation
    • Adult Water Activities
      • Adult Swim Lessons
      • Arthritis Exercise
      • Red Cross Lifeguard Courses
      • Water Group Exercise Classes
    • Family Time
      • Adventure Guides
      • Family Wellness
      • Family Events
    • Group Interests
      • Project Adventure
      • Sit & Knit (And Crochet, Too!)
    • Physical Therapy
    • ForeverWell Programs for Active Older Adults
      • ForeverWell – Get Active
      • ForeverWell – Stay Fit
      • ForeverWell – Be Social
  • Social Responsibility
    • World Service Initiatives & Global Education
      • Facing the Future Child Development Learning Center
    • Where the Community Comes Together
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    • 40 Developmental Assets
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©2013 New Canaan YMCA | 564 South Avenue New Canaan, CT 06840 | (203) 966-4528
  • Sign Up for Y Emails
  • Reopening
  • Reservations
  • Schedules
  • Virtual Y
  • Online Registration
  • Program Brochures
  • Membership
    ▼
    • Y@home
    • Membership Account & Online Registration
    • Program Brochures
    • Why Our Y?
    • Membership Categories
    • Try Our Y & Facility Tours
    • Nationwide Membership & Local Y Reciprocity
    • Bring a Guest
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Financial Assistance
    • Sign Up For Y Emails
  • News & Events
    ▼
    • News
    • Calendar of Events
  • Youth Development Programs
    ▼
    • Bouncing Bears & Beyond
      ▼
      • Bouncing Bears: Ages 1-5
      • Grade School Gymnastics: Ages K-7+ Years
      • Rhythmic Gymnastics: Ages 5-10
      • Bouncing Bears Open Gym: Ages 4 & Under
    • Child Development
      ▼
      • Rainbow Station Preschool
      • Kids Unlimited After-School Program
      • My Playroom On-Site Babysitting
    • Competitive Aquatics
      ▼
      • Caimans Swim Team
      • Aquianas Synchronized Swimming Team
      • Whirlwind Diving
    • Family Time
      ▼
      • Adventure Guides
      • Family Wellness
      • Family Events
    • School Vacation Camp
    • Summer Camp
      ▼
      • Camp Mini
      • Camp Y-Ki
      • Sports Camp
      • Counselor-in-Training (C.I.T.)
      • YSN Summer Camps
      • Synchronized Swimming Camp
    • Youth Education & Leadership
      ▼
      • Red Cross Babysitting Certification
      • Red Cross Lifeguard Courses
      • Youth Leadership Programs
    • Youth Recreation
    • Youth Sports & Wellness
      ▼
      • Youth Sports
      • Youth Wellness
      • Girls on the Run
    • Youth Water Activities
      ▼
      • Parent-Child Swim Classes
      • Preschool Swim Classes
      • School-Age Swim Classes
      • Red Cross Lifeguard Courses
      • Water Polo
    • YSN Special Needs
  • Healthy Living Programs
    ▼
    • Adult Health, Well-being & Fitness
      ▼
      • Wellness Center
      • The Zone
      • Personal Fitness
      • Group Fitness
    • Adult Healthy Lifestyles
      ▼
      • LIVESTRONG at the YMCA
      • Nutritional Counseling at the New Canaan YMCA
    • Adult Sports & Recreation
    • Adult Water Activities
      ▼
      • Adult Swim Lessons
      • Arthritis Exercise
      • Red Cross Lifeguard Courses
      • Water Group Exercise Classes
    • Family Time
      ▼
      • Adventure Guides
      • Family Wellness
      • Family Events
    • Group Interests
      ▼
      • Project Adventure
      • Sit & Knit (And Crochet, Too!)
    • Physical Therapy
    • ForeverWell Programs for Active Older Adults
  • Social Responsibility
    ▼
    • World Service Initiatives & Global Education
      ▼
      • Facing the Future Child Development Learning Center
    • Volunteer
    • Where the Community Comes Together
    • 40 Developmental Assets
  • Support Our Y
    ▼
    • Donate Online
    • Ways to Give
    • Annual Support Campaign
    • Charity Golf Tournament
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Volunteer
    • Where the Community Comes Together
    • Our Impact
  • Contact
    ▼
    • New Canaan YMCA Directors
    • Employment
      ▼
      • Current Employment Opportunities
      • Summer Camp Employment
    • Volunteer
    • Online Registration FAQs & Support