The framework of Developmental Assets is, by design, a tool for all aspects of community life. At the same time, many in the faith community find important links between Developmental Assets and their own priorities, beliefs, and traditions.
Below are some of the ways researchers and practitioners in diverse religious traditions have begun exploring links between Developmental Assets and religious faith.
Research Linking Faith and Assets
- Religious Participation and Assets: Religiously active and spiritual youth are more likely to experience the Developmental Assets and less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors.
- Early Spirituality and Religious Participation Linked to Later Adolescent Well-Being: Young people in middle school who describe spirituality as important, and who participate in religious community, are better off on a variety of risk and thriving indicators several years later in high school.
Developmental Assets in Specific Faith Traditions
Here are samples of how leaders in different traditions have linked Developmental Assets and their scriptures, beliefs, and traditions.*
- Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry: This 1997 pastoral letter from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S. Catholic Conference) builds on the framework of Developmental Assets as a core foundation for Catholic youth ministry. It links assets to core Catholic social teachings.
- Grounding Asset Building in Lutheran Faith: This booklet links core Lutheran beliefs and practices (baptism, sanctification, etc.) to an asset-building approach. It includes scripture references for each of the 40 Developmental Assets. This booklet was developed in collaboration with leaders from three Lutheran church bodies: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church.
- Linking Developmental Assets with Jewish Values: Jonathan Cohen, a Jewish camp director, has linked each of the Developmental Assets to important concepts and themes in Judaism.
*Search Institute is a nonsectarian organization and does not endorse any specific religious tradition or belief system. These links are provided as a service to those within each faith tradition who seek to Search Institute’s research with the tenets of their own faith.
