The 40 developmental assets, resulting from extensive research of the Search Institute in Minneapolis, MN, are common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to the healthy development of youth. The assets are divided into two groups of twenty: internal assets and external assets.

External assets indentify ways in which families, schools, neighborhoods and other organizations can play a vital role in the lives of young people. Internal assets are characteristics and behaviors of youth that reflect positive internal growth and development.

Building developmental assets has been shown to have a positive role in reducing youth substance abuse. Search Institute Research shows that young people with fewer developmental assets are two to four times more likely to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs than youth with above-average levels of assets. These results are shown to be true for young people from all racial/ethnic, family and socieconomic levels.

Relevant Links

Connecticut Assets Network
Search Institute