The framework of Developmental Assets is grounded in extensive research on what kids need to succeed. And since 1989, Search Institute has been studying the assets in the lives of young people. To date, about 3 million young people have been surveyed in thousands of communities across North America. Read more about the research behind this framework.
The Current State of Assets Among U. S. Adolescents
- Where do the Developmental Assets come from?
- How many young people (grades 6 to 12) experience each asset?
- How do assets make a difference in young people’s lives?
- How many assets do U. S. young people experience?
The Asset Approach provides an easy-to-use overview of the assets to help you introduce this approach to other leaders, parents, youth, and other stakeholders in your community. Also available in Spanish.
Developmental Assets: Not Just for Adolescents
Search Institute’s framework of Developmental Assets was developed based on the research on adolescents in the United States. However, the basic strength-based approach and framework is consistent with research on what kids need to succeed throughout childhood—and probably into adulthood. Search Institute continues to deepen its research and framework to be relevant for all ages of young people.
- Developmental Assets in Early Childhood, ages 3 to 5
- Developmental Assets in Middle Childhood, ages 9 – 11 (grades 4 – 6)
How Are Your Community’s Young People Doing?
Search Institute’s research on Developmental Assets is conducted one community at a time. To see how your young people are doing, commission an asset-based portrait of your community’s young people
- Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes & Behaviors, a survey for young people in grades 6 to 12.
- Me and My World, a survey for young people in grades 4 to 6 (ages 9 to 11).
Other Research Publications on Developmental Assets
- Search Institute Insights & Evidence is a free online periodical that interprets Search Institute’s research for policy and practice. Download these issues for more assets research
- All Kids Are Our Kids: What Communities Must Do to Raise Caring and Responsible Children and Adolescents (2nd Edition), by Peter L. Benson, presents a comprehensive overview of the Developmental Assets and the change strategies needed to create asset-rich communities.
- Developmental Assets: A Synthesis of the Scientific Research on Adolescent Development, which examines more than 800 scientific articles and reports on adolescent development that tie to each of the 40 Developmental Assets
- Coming into Their Own: How Developmental Assets Promote Positive Growth in Middle Childhood, which documents the research behind the Developmental Assets for grades 4 to 6.
- Developmental Assets and Asset-Building Communities: Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice, offers the insights and perspectives of leading U.S. scholars on the contributions and implications of Developmental Assets for adolescent development.
- A bibliography of peer-reviewed articles and dissertations on Developmental Assets
