12-28-2010 Student Connectedness Named “Priority of the Year”
Learn how one community in Palo Alto, California, showed resilience following five devastating student suicides over a nine-month period ending in January, and made student connectedness a priority in 2010. Read full story >
12-22-2010 Make a New Year’s Resolution That Makes a Difference!
This time of year, everyone wants to give a little, and spread the holiday magic and cheer. Countless volunteers give a lot, year-round, giving of themselves and their time —week after week— to truly deliver something special to a child. With National Mentoring Month coming up in January, we think it’s a great time to commit your time to mentoring. Why not resolve to make a difference in the new year? Here’s how one man is making a difference through mentoring in his community.
12-22-2010 BARR Program to Expand, Allow California High School Students a Chance to Succeed
Hemet High school was selected as one of four schools nationally to take part in Search Institute’s innovative BARR program. The BARR program was introduced 12 years ago in St. Louis Park, Minn., and has been successful in increasing graduation rates in the schools where it was applied. Hemet was the only school in California to be selected to take part in the program. Continue reading or download the full podcast of the story here.
12-20-2010 Leading With Assets Conference Reaches Student Leaders
Student officers from Mercy High School’s SADD program (Students Against Destructive Decisions) recently attended a leadership conference organized by the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council. Keynote presenter and senior trainer at Search Institute, Jim Conway, spoke about the essential developmental assets for youth. Read More.
12-08-2010 Colorado Community Honors Local Asset Champions
The Community Asset Project (CAP) for the Cherry Creek school district in Englewood, CO, recently awarded two dedicated community leaders for working to build developmental assets and create strong partnerships between the school district and surrounding areas. Read More.
12-08-2010 Catholic Educators Surprised by Data on Student Values Preliminary results from a national study surprised educators in New Orleans, Louisiana, last week during the annual convention of the National Catholic Educational Association. Despite their schools’ emphasis on traditional moral values, seniors in Roman Catholic high schools may be more likely than their public-school peers to engage in high-risk activities, preliminary results from a national study suggest. Click here to read the rest of the article and Search Institute President, Dr. Peter Benson’s thoughts on the recent study.
12-06-2010 Free Webinar Training: Ready by 21 Partnership, Register now!
The Ready by 21 Partnership is committed to meeting leaders where they are, challenging them to do more, and helping them build the capacity to do so. Join VP of Search Institute, Gene Roehlkepartian, for a free webinar training on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. For details and registration,click here.
11-23-2010 Local Celebrity and Musical Artist Inspires,Challenges Students at the BigTent Conference in Houston, TX
Houston native, graduate of Kashmere High School, and lead drummer for the musical artist Prince, Cora Coleman Dunham, inspired and challenged high school students to to think big, beyond success at the BigTent Conference. Read the full story.
11-23-2010 An Interview With Nathan Eklund: What Kids Need to Succeed
PBS channel 8 took advantage of the opportunity to interview Search Institute Senior Education Consultant, Nathan Eklund, during the BigTent Conference in Houston, TX. Watch the full interview, where Eklund explains the 40 Developmental Assets, and how Search Institute has successfully “put language and research around good intentions”.
11-19-2010 Search Institute and General Mills Foundation Announce Partnership,Pioneering Study of the American Family
Search Institute announced a comprehensive study of the strengths of American Families during the BigTent Conference in Houston, TX. Stay tuned for results of the study, which will be released in 2011. Read the Full Press Release.
11-18-2010 We Value Your Feedback!
Did you attend the inaugural BigTent Conference in Houston, TX? We want your feedback! We’ve all made a big commitment for kids, but we’re also committed to making next year’s event even better! Please take a few minutes to help us plan and improve next year’s conference. Take the Survey Now.
11-05-2010 New Resource for Youth Development Programs!
If your youth development program is aimed at 1) promoting school success; 2) preventing violence, bullying, and aggression; 3) preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; or 4) preventing adolescent pregnancy,then you need to download this handy and effective tool.
11-03-2010 Peer Helping Equips, Mobilizes Youth
Search Institute is pleased to announce the Varenhorst Partnership, an exciting development in the Peer Helping movement. Learn more about Peer Helping and how you can tap into the power of peer-to-peer support at this year’s BigTent Conference.
10-29-2010 Check Out The Latest Titles at Search Institute Press!
We’ve added new titles to the Search Institute store. Stop by the Search Institute Press page for a closer look.
10-28-2010 New Insights and Evidence on Sparks
How many students report having a spark, and how many get support for it? How does having a spark influence developmental and academic success? Get the answer to these questions in the latest issue of Insights and Evidence, a free, downloadable publication that presents our latest research on healthy youth and communities in a format that is useful to community leaders and policy makers.
11-12-2010 Double Your Impact on November 16th!
Search Institute, together with GiveMN.org (a first-of-its-kind giving website for nonprofits in Minnesota), is working to create a stronger nonprofit community. On November 16, 2010–Give to the Max Day– you can help Search Institute continue to make a difference, and double your impact by doing so. Learn more.
11-12-2010 BigTent Attracts Big Names, Big Hearts
The inaugural BigTent Conference in Houston, Nov. 18-20, will bring the mayor of Houston, a former Bush administration official, the drummer for Prince, recording artists, authors, executives, youth advocates, and student activists focused on positive youth development together under one virtual “BigTent”. Full Conference Student Scholarships and $59 Final Day Registration Available! Read more.
11-04-2010 Holthouse Foundation for Kids Encourages Registration and Attendance of National BigTent Conference
Houston-based Holthouse Foundation For Kids has pledged major support of the inaugural BigTent Conference for youth development as a Chairman Sponsor, the highest level of sponsorship available.Read Full Story.
10-21-2010 Thunderous Youth Voices Make History at State Capitols
Youth in Arkansas, Georgia, and Minnesota took matters into their own hands on October 10, 2010,as thousands gathered at their state capitols for a youth-led, non-partisan march and rally to raise public awareness of the needs of children and youth. Learn more about the 10-10-10 rally.
10-20-2010 Scholarships Available to Students Eager to Speak Out for Youth in America
Every youth has a BIG voice that needs a chance to be heard. That’s why we’re giving away 150 BigVoice scholarships valued at $60,000 for youth to attend the BigTent Conference in Houston.Learn More. Apply for the BigVoice scholarship.
10-18-2010 Let’s Shine a Light on Our Work!
Kathy Cloninger,CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, has a special message for everyone serving in the youth-development community.
10-11-2010 We’re Committed to Reading!
Search Institute has partnered with Target to bring you reading tips and resources to support early childhood literacy.Learn why reading proficiently by the end of third grade is a significant milestone on the path to graduation,and join Search Institute and Target in our reading pledge.
09-27-2010 Asset Champions Build Top American Communities
America’s Promise Alliance has announced its list of top communities in America, and for the fourth time, St. Louis Park, MN has topped the list. Community leaders have credited part the community’s success to the 150 trained Asset champions who volunteer to work with young people in the community. Read the full story here.
09-21-2010 An Important Message From Search Institute President and CEO, Peter Benson
Read Benson’s article, A Remarkable Consensus About Our Work For Kids, to learn how he,and other researchers, educators, advocates, and young people are coming together to exchange ideas with thousands of other people who are dedicated to positive youth development.
09-17-2010 United Way Status Report Indicates Education Is The Key to Community Strengths, Weaknesses
The United Way recently released the 2010 Community Status Report, which contains local statistics on issues such as education, health, economics and safety. Because education was highlighted as a key to most areas, United Way teamed up with Search Institute to conduct an additional survey unique to this year’s results.
09-15-2010 YMCA of USA, Annie E. Casey Foundation Recognize Community Asset-Builders
YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) has awarded five Ys with the 2010 YMCA-Annie E. Casey Foundation Families Count Family Strengthening Award in recognition of their exemplary work to strengthen and support families in their communities. Read the full story here.
09-10-2010 The Most Talent Under One Tent!
From a former White House Deputy Assistant, to an inspiring, young drummer for a world-renowned musician—-our BigTent Conference keynote presenters are coming together for kids! Check out the newly updated list of BigTent Conference keynote speakers and performers.
09-09-2010 Search Institute Secures Match to Receive $5 Million U.S. Department of Education Grant 
In August, Search Institute proudly announced our national recognition when we were selected as one of the 2010 Investing in Innovation Fund’s (i3) highest-rated programs. As one of only 49 programs to receive funding, we were charged with securing $1 million in funds in order to receive the full grant. We would now like to formally thank the U.S. Department of Education and all of the contributing partners who helped us reach our goal. Read the full news release here.
09-09-2010 Following Suicides, California Community Embraces Developmental Assets
In the wake of five student suicides in Palo Alto, California last year, school and community leaders surveyed youth well-being programs nationwide and settled on the Developmental Assets model. Upcoming events to explain Developmental Assets to Palo Altans are planned for Sept. 16, Sept. 22 and Oct. 9. To attend a scheduled Palo Alto training, or a training in your area, please contact the Search Institute training office.
09-08-2010 United Way Launches Campaign,Day of Caring to Help Youth Become Successful Adults
Learn how one Ohio United Way is launching a campaign using Developmental Assets to help youth become successful adults.
08-30-2010 Renew Your Commitment to Kids at The Big Tent!
Back-to-school time means a flurry of refocused energy: new classes, new programs, new teachers, new lessons, and new students. In so much of our work with youth, this is a time of renewal.Join the 3000+ group of educators, mentors, and youth workers who will be coming together for kids this November at the first-ever, BigTent Conference.
08-23-2010 California Community Inspires, Empowers Youth Through Change
Read the inspiring story of one community that made a strong statement for youth by adopting a bill of rights for kids.
08-19-2010 It’s Open Registration for Big Tent Pre-Conference Sessions!
New, exciting and informative pre-conference sessions have been added to the list! Register today to take advantage of early-bird pricing, and secure your seat at some of our most in-demand sessions.
08-16-2010 Boost Your Mentoring Skills: Attend The Summer Mentor Series! Learn how the 40 Developmental Assets can benefit youth mentors, particularly in the transition to adolescence. The Summer Mentor Series takes place this September in Nevada City, California. Register here.
08-05-2010 Building Assets-Reducing Risks Program Receives National Recognition, Funding from U.S. Department of Education
Search Institute’s Building Assets-Reducing Risks(BARR) program was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2010 Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) highest-rated program.In addition to receiving top ratings in the i3 competition, Search Institute will also receive funding to expand the BARR program to over 7500 American students over the next 4 years. Read the full story here.
07-27-2010 Already Planning Your Trip to The Big Tent Conference? Let us help! Our Library of Documents is chock-full of resources to help guide you, every step of the way, to Houston.
07-23-2010 We All Need Someone to Lean On!
Our most recent study, Teen Voice 2010, reveals teens lack sufficient meaningful adult relationships. Read more about it here and be sure to download the complete Teen Voice 2010 study to discover the full gamut of our findings.
07-15-2010 New Study from Search Institute and Best Buy @15
Teen Voice 2010 Study reveals value of adult support and its impact on teens’ success and ability to overcome key challenges.
Read more
07-12-2010 Creating Positive Relationships Using Positive Tickets
Mounted police in Richmond, British Columbia have used positive ticketing to “catch” kids doing good things and reward them. Find out how this has made a difference in their community and how you can get started in yours!
Find out more about Positive Tickets
07-07-2010 David Walsh Coauthors a Study on Media and Attention Problems
The article, recently released in Pediatrics, is titled “Television and Video Game Exposure and the Development of Attention Problems.”
Download the article
07-06-2010 Peter Benson Addresses School Climate and Academic Achievement Briefing
Several panelists spoke at the briefing, convened by the National Collaboration for Youth, in an effort to define school climate and why it matters.
See highlights from the briefing
06-29-2010 Looking to Get the Word out about the Assets?
See how one community initiative made videos starring local asset builders to share the message of the Developmental Assets.
Go to Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth to watch the video
06-30-2010 The list of 40 Developmental Assets for children in grades K-3 has now been translated into Spanish!
All of our asset lists are now available in both English and Spanish.
View the Asset Lists
06-29-2010 Slide into Reading with St. Lucie County
Florida’s St. Lucie County has teamed up with their local baseball team, the St. Lucie Mets, to create a summer reading program for kids. Find out how they did it and get ideas for creating a program in your community.
Read about the program and the partnership
06-29-2010 Ready by 21 Grant Opportunity
Ready by 21 will choose three cities in the southeastern United States to receive Challenge Awards to improve the quality of out-of-school time programming and improve youth access to developmental and learning experiences.
Read more about the Ready by 21 Grant Opportunity
06-21-2010 Find out What It Takes for Kids to Thrive
Thriving is a new way of thinking about successful kids. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with kids, it focuses on what’s right. By using the principles of thriving to talk about kids in positive ways, we can make a positive impact on their lives.
Find out more about thriving
Read the 15 indicators of thriving
06-18-2010 Adolescents’ willingness to act on behalf of others is something parents and educators can influence.
We all know how much influence peers can have over each other. Dr. Amy Syvertsen, our newest research scientist at Search Institute, shared two studies on this topic at the Society for Prevention Research meeting.
06-16-2010 Parents Get Involved in an Anti-Bullying Initiative
California’s Santa Clara County is taking steps to educate its students in bullying prevention, conflict resolution, and positive values. And parents are stepping in to help.
Read about Project Cornerstone’s ABC Parents program
06-16-2010 Empower Students to Create a Kinder School Climate
Only 52% of youth report that they feel bonded to their school. The Change of Heart retreat offered by Search Institute Training & Speaking is designed to help participants promote a more supportive local community.
Find out more about Change of Heart
05-20-2010 Search Institute Partners with Target to Promote Summer Learning
Powerful tips for parents help kids continue to learn throughout the summer. Target® has launched a new social marketing campaign based on the research of Minneapolis-based Search Institute®. Each week, new tips will be posted.
View the press release
05-20-2010 Search Institute Received Great Friend to Kids Award
Search Institute received the Association of Children’s Museums’ Great Friend to Kids award. Dr. Peter Benson was at the ACM’s annual conference in Minneapolis to accept the award.
Learn More
Find out more about the ACM conference
05-13-2010 Don’t Just Spend the Rest of Your Budget—Invest It!
Let Search Institute tailor a package of publications, training, and survey services that maximizes the outcomes you’re trying to achieve. By investing your money wisely this year, you can lay a foundation of staff and student success for years to come.
05-05-2010 Lemonade Day Was a Great Success!
Last weekend’s Lemonade Day brought together youth and adults from around the country to teach kids useful businesses skills and benefit their communities.
See pictures of a Lemonade Day mentors’ event
Find out more and start planning next year’s event
04-28-2010 Shout it Out wins national award!
The NEA—National Education Association awarded Shout it Out one of its 2010 Human and Civil Rights Awards—-the award is for enhancing all student’s sense of worth and dignity!
Learn more about the movie
04-26-2010 Prince William County Declares Healthy Communities for Healthy Youth Week
Prince William County has declared April 19-23, 2010 to be Healthy Communities for Healthy Youth Week. Use their declaration as an example to declare a healthy youth week in your own community!
Download the declaration
04-12-2010 Registration for our 2010 Big Tent Conference is open!
Register now for our 2010 Big Tent Conference, linking schools, youth, families, and communities. Sign up now to take advantage of the early bird rate.
04-09-2010 National Youth Panel Application Now Available
Do you know any young people who might be interested in helping to shape the future of the Big Tent conference? If so, have them fill out the National Youth Panel application and start making a difference!
View the National Youth Panel application
Learn more about the Big Tent conference
04-20-2010 Celebrate National Volunteer Week with Search Institute
April 18-24 is National Volunteer Week! Service to Others is a Developmental Asset, so get out with your family and do some volunteer service.
Get volunteering ideas from ParentFurther
Learn more about National Volunteer Week
04-01-2010 Would You Like to Present at Our Conference?
November 18, 2010, marks the kick-off of a new Search Institute conference. It’s even got a new name: “The Big Tent Conference.” We are currently looking for presenters.
Learn more about the Big Tent conference</a
03-26-2010 Great new Asset stories in HC • HY communities!
Strategies You Can Use: Get a Personal Perspective on the Assets.
Sharing a personal view on the Developmental Assets can be a powerful and motivating tool for getting your community engaged…
03-22-2010 Two New Training Opportunities Hosted at Search!
Search Institute Training and Speaking will be hosting two open enrollment trainings in Minneapolis, in August. Building Developmental Assets in School Communities and Essentials of Asset Building.
Reserve your spot now, enrollment is limited and seats go fast.
03-22-2010 Our Spring Catalog has Arrived!
Spring is officially in the air, and so is the Search Institute Spring Catalog. Look for yours in your mailbox this week. Not on the mailing list?
Sign up now, view it online, or download it.
03-19-2010 Education Blog Update:
Nate Eklund How Was Your Day at School?: I was at a school doing some training in Chicago last week. There was some tension in the room. Sharks were circling. Swim away? Flail? NO! You’ve got to PUNCH THE SHARK
I’ll explain…
03-02-2010 Share the Asset Message through Local Media
Would you like to share motivating asset messages with people in your community? See this week’s installment of Strategies You Can Use to see how one initiative shared their stories.
Read the article
See all archived strategies
02-25-2010 Minneapolis’ Star Tribune Article on Search Institute
The Star Tribune recently published an article on Search Institute’s acquisition of the assets of the National Institute on Media and the Family.
Read the article
Find out more about Search and NIMF
02-19-2010 Department of Education Funds Countywide Assets Survey
Project Cornerstone, an HC • HY initiative, has won federal funding to conduct a Developmental Assets survey with 40,000 youth in Santa Clara County, California.
Read more at PYD Report
Find out more about Project Cornerstone
02-16-2010 California School District Unites for Asset Building
Students and faculty at the Pleasanton Unified School District came together through service-learning to thank veterans for their service.
Read the article
Visit the Got Assets? initiative page
02-15-2010 Search Institute Volunteer Wins National Award
Deena Whitman, a co-presenter at the 2009 HC • HY Conference, won a Prudential Spirit of Community Award for her Bookworm Wednesday neighborhood book club.
Read the press release
Learn more about the Spirit of Community Awards
02-11-2010 Dr. David Walsh Interviewed on Minneapolis’s 107.1 FM
Dr. Walsh, formerly of the National Institute on Media and the Family, and a recognized expert in youth development, was interviewed on myTalk 107.1 FM earlier this week.
Listen to the interview
Learn more about the NIMF and Search Institute
02-11-2010 HC • HY Initiative to Stage National Haiti Fundraiser
Team Kids is putting on a bi-coastal event in Arlington, VA, and Irvine, CA, to raise money for Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.
Download the flyer
Download the media release
02-01-2010 150 Ways to Show Patients You Care?
NurseTogether.com, a Web site aimed at providing personal and professional resources for nurses around the world, recommends using asset-building strategies with patients.
Read the article
Learn more about 150 Ways to Show Kids You Care
01-27-2010 National Institute on Media and the Family Selects Search Institute as New Home for Its Award-Winning Programs
The NIMF has announced its intention to transition its programs, trademarks, and Web site content to Search Institute.
Download the press release
Find out more about Search Institute and the NIMF
01-25-2010 A New HC • HY Article Series
Strategies You Can Use is a new bi-weekly article series that features tips, advice, and outreach strategies from initiatives around the country.
See this week’s strategy from Kentucky’s Together We Care
Go to the Strategies You Can Use page
01-25-2010 Are You Looking for the 2010 Conference RFP?
The RFP isn’t ready yet, but if you leave us your name and e-mail address, we’ll let you know when it’s been posted.
Fill out the RFP Reminder form
01-12-2010 “Support Our Youth Month” Declared in Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands Youth Development Consortium, an asset-focused organization, lobbied for the creation of a month dedicated to youth development.
Read the full story
Find out more about youth development in the Cayman Islands
01-11-2010 Free Resources for National Mentoring Month
Search Institute, along with the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, has developed a series of downloadable tip sheets for mentors.
Download Tools for Mentoring Adolescents
Find more mentoring resources from Search Institute
01-06-2010 Launching Your Teen into Adulthood Featured
Patricia Hoolihan’s Launching Your Teen into Adulthood has been reviewed and featured on TreasureValleyTeen.com.
Read the review
Listen to a podcast from the author
Find out more or buy the book
01-04-2010 January Is National Mentoring Month
Search Institute will be celebrating mentors and mentoring organizations with free downloads, inspirational stories, and product specials throughout the month.
Read about mentoring and Developmental Assets
Learn more about National Mentoring Month
01-04-2010 Are You Applying for Grants in 2010?
Our Grant-Writing Resources page has the information, links, downloads, and tools that you need to create an effective grant proposal.
Go to the Grant-Writing Resources page
Request a letter of support for your proposal
