What are assets?

Most people think of assets in terms of property or financial resources. Developmental Assets are the positive relationships, opportunities, values and skills that young people need to grow up caring and responsible. Search Institute identified 40 developmental assets as the essential building blocks of healthy child and youth development - including adult role models, positive peer influence, caring school climates and a sense that community values youth. Search Institute's research shows that youth need 31 or more of the 41 assets to thrive. Our data shows the Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo youth have an average of 19.1 assets. Each of us has the power to make a difference by being asset builders for children and youth.

There is no doubt that young people need adult role models in order to thrive. And guess what? YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL, whether you want to be one or not. Our young people are watching all of us, not just parents and teachers, to learn how they should act and feel about themselves and the world. Every interaction counts: The look on your face as you pass a group of young people at the mall; the greeting you offer when you see a neighbor’s kid walking down your street; the way you maneuver your car near them while they cross the street. Just imagine what a tremendous impact we could have on young people if every adult they encountered simply smiled at them! You don’t need to be a parent or a “professional” to build assets. You only need to be deliberate in a few ways to make a big difference.