The vast majority of people who work with youth are, by nature, asset builders. But in the busy-ness of daily life, it can be easy to forget the things that matter when it comes to working with young people. The asset framework helps us remember these important, positive things. Here are some tips to remind you of the kinds of things you can do as a youth worker to build assets.
Getting to Know You
- Assign each young person a particular program leader or volunteer so that each teen has at least one adult that he or she can form a close relationship with.
- Learn the names of all the young people who participate in your programs and activities. Get to know them and ask them about what’s going on in their lives.
- Spend time talking to parents during drop-off and pick-up times.
- Give each young person one-to-one attention at some point during the program.
Building Assets as a Team
- Use the asset framework in designing the program content of youth development programs and activities.
- Use your program time to also promote asset building. When you have a project, talk about which assets the project is building.
- Teach young people about the 40 assets and help them set goals for building their asset base.
- Train staff, volunteers, and program leaders in the asset framework. Explain why it is important.
- Meet with other staff members and volunteers within youth development and brainstorm six ideas on how to build assets.
- Set high standards for how program participants, staff, and volunteers are expected to behave in your program. Set standards that emphasize the positive rather than the negative.
- Recognize adults who are building assets for young people. Recognize the young people who are building assets for children, youth, and other teens.
- Offer parent education classes so that parents can learn how to build assets for their children and teenagers.
Leading the Way
- Create a climate where young people’s opinions and experiences are valued and respected.
- Recruit young people as volunteers to provide leadership in youth programs and activities.
- Engage teens as leaders and decision makers throughout your organization.
Positive Reinforcement and Support
- Notice what’s working. Tell young people when they are doing something right.
- Recognize and celebrate youth service.
- Attend other activities—*games, plays, concerts*—that young people are involved in outside of your organization.
Picture Perfect
- Take photographs of young people and hang them up in your room or in the hallways.
- When you photograph events, get double prints. Keep one set for your program and give the extras to young people in the photographs.
Learning for Life
- Make a designated space (like a teen center or a teen room) an asset-building space where young people can hang out, be safe, and do homework.
- Provide teen internships with concrete learning opportunities, good supervision, and plenty of support and guidance.
- Help young people create life-planning portfolios that include goals and dreams. Have young people follow it for one year before updating it and tracking their challenges and accomplishments.
