Developmental Assets

Since its creation in 1990, Search Institute’s framework of Developmental Assets has become the most widely used approach to positive youth development in the United States. “Developmental Assets” are defined as factors that decrease the likelihood that a young person will engage in risky behavior and increase the chances they will grow up to be healthy, caring and responsible adults. Currently, the Search Institute has developed and published four different versions of their developmental assets for different ages of children and youth.

Each list identifies a total of 40 assets that are critical for a young person’s growth and development. The first 20 assets on each list are referred to as “external assets”. These are positive experiences that youth and children should be receiving from adults in their environment. The second 20 are termed “internal assets”. These are qualities that the child or young person should be developing with the assistance of individuals, organizations and institutions within their communities.

External Assets are grouped into four areas of concern:
• Support- Children and youth need to experience support, care and love from their families, neighbors and many others. They need organizations and institutions that provide positive, supportive environments.
• Empowerment- Children and youth need to be valued by their community and have opportunities to contribute to others. For this to occur they must be safe and feel secure.
• Boundaries and Expectations- Children and youth need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are “in bounds” or “out of bounds”
• Constructive Use of Time- Children and youth need constructive, enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs, congregational involvement, and quality time at home.

Internal Assets are likewise grouped into four areas or subgroups:
• Commitment to Learning- Children and youth need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.
• Positive Values- Children and youth need to develop strong values that guide their choices.
• Social Competencies- Children and youth need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and to succeed in life.
• Positive Identity- Children and youth need a strong sense of their own power, purpose, worth and promise

With this handbook, we have provided you the asset list appropriate to the age of the child you will be mentoring. Please refer to it often as you work with your mentee.

All versions of the developmental checklists plus additional information on child and youth development and the Search Institute can be downloaded for free from the Search Institute Website at: http://www.search-institute.org/assets/assetlists.html

How Mentoring Helps

At its most basic level, mentoring helps because it guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them. Think back. Did you know how to study for a test or make plans for college? Do you remember wanting your first car or looking for a part-time job? Simple things that seem easy or straightforward to you now may appear to be a complete mystery to a young person.



Mentors provide their mentees with an experienced friend who is always ready to help in any number of different situations. Research shows that mentoring:

· Increases the self-esteem of young people;

· Increases student academic success;

· Increases positive social interaction by youth;

· Reduces the risk that young people will use illegal drugs;

· Reduces the risk that youth will begin using alcohol; and

· Reduces the risk that students will skip school.


Mentors help keep students in school. According to a study by Big Brothers Big Sisters, students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. While mentors are not expected to be teachers or even tutors, by their encouragement and support, mentors can help with homework and can improve academic skills.


The commitment that a mentor makes to the relationship also helps improve a young person's self-esteem. A strong mentor / mentee relationship provides the student someone to share with and to discuss other options with. It provides support for students who are being influenced by peers to try at-risk behaviors and helps them say "no". The results of the same Big Brother Big Sister study showed that youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking.



Mentors help young people strengthen their communication skills. About 40% of teenager's waking hours are spent without companionship or supervision. Mentors provide teens with a valuable place to spend free time and teach young people how to relate well to all kinds of people. Mentors may also introduce young people to community resources and organizations they may not know about and teach them how them can use their skills to help others.



Mentors help young people set career goals and start taking steps to realize them. Mentors can use their personal contacts to help young people meet industry professionals, find internships and locate job possibilities. Through their mentors, mentees can learn how to seek and keep jobs.


The number of ways mentoring can help a youth are as varied as the participants involved in each program; and while the lists and statistics can be impressive, nothing could ever be as impressive as the way you will feel when you see a child grow into a successful young adult and know that you held an important role in their development.

Qualities of Successful Mentor

The National Mentoring Partnership provides these QUALITIES OF SUCCESSFUL MENTORS as a guideline to volunteers who provide this valuable service to youth in their communities.

Personal commitment to be involved with another person for an extended
time — generally, one year at minimum. Mentors have a genuine desire to be part of other people’s lives, to help them with tough decisions and to see them become the best they can be. They have to be invested in the mentoring relationship over the long haul to be there long enough to make a difference.

Respect for individuals and for their abilities and their right to make their
own choices in life. Mentors should not approach the mentee with the attitude that their own ways are better or that participants need to be rescued. Mentors who convey a sense of respect and equal dignity in the relationship win the trust of their mentees and the privilege of being advisers to them.

Ability to listen and to accept different points of view. Most people can find someone who will give advice or express opinions. It’s much harder to find someone who will suspend his or her own judgment and really listen. Mentors often help simply by listening, asking thoughtful questions and giving mentees an opportunity to explore their own thoughts with a minimum of interference. When people feel accepted, they are more likely to ask for and respond to good ideas.

Ability to empathize with another person’s struggles. Effective mentors can feel with people without feeling pity for them. Even without having had the same life experiences, they can empathize with their mentee’s feelings and personal problems.

Ability to see solutions and opportunities as well as barriers. Effective mentors balance a realistic respect for the real and serious problems faced by their mentees with optimism about finding equally realistic solutions. They are able to make sense of a seeming jumble of issues and point out sensible alternatives.

Flexibility and openness. Effective mentors recognize that relationships take time to develop and that communication is a two-way street. They are willing to take time to get to know their mentees, to learn new things that are important to their mentees (music, styles, philosophies, etc.), and even to be changed by their relationship.

Mentor Our Future Today!

Welcome to the official blog for the SPARC Crawford County Mentoring Program. Please visit often for mentoring tips, mentoring events, and other mentoring information for the Crawford County Mentoring Program