Congregations are a valuable resource for building Developmental Assets in children and youth. Each week, millions of young people participate in religious services and programs that strengthen their values, provide caring relationships with adults, and provide positive opportunities for growth.
Consider some of the strengths congregations of all faiths can offer children and youth:
- The care and guidance of an intergenerational community
- Positive relationships with peers
- Support and education for parents
- Opportunities for service to others
- Service opportunities as an expression of faith
- Faith and values as the basis for sound life choices
Yet too often congregations fail to recognize the ways they are meeting—or could meet—the needs of youth and contributing to building a solid foundation for life. Similarly, others in communities also tend to overlook this capacity. And, frankly, too many congregations do not live up to their potential or tap their own capacities and gifts.
Many congregational leaders have discovered that Search Institute’s framework of Developmental Assets is a powerful tool for strengthening their engagement with children and youth. They see its potential not only in their programming for children and youth, but also on their work with parents, their outreach to the community, and how young people are actively engaged in the intergenerational community of faith.
