Program Description

Developmental Assets is a framework based on the Positive Youth Development Model, a strengths-based approach to working with students. The Developmental Assets framework is comprised of 40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to succeed. Half of the assets focus on the relationships and opportunities they need in their families, schools, and communities (external assets). The remaining assets focus on the social-emotional strengths, values, and commitments that are nurtured within young people (internal assets).

Cost

There are free dowloads available on the publisher's site. Assessments, tools and resources can be purchased separately.

Intended Population

• Core

Grade

• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

Intended Group Size

• Classroom
• School

ELL/DLL

• Partial

Multisensory Applications

• Unspecified

Computer-Based Delivery

• None

Scripted

• None

Comprehensive or Skill Specific

• Comprehensive

Placement Tests

• Yes

Accelerated Learning

• No

Assessment to Monitor Skills Mastery

• Yes

Error Correction Built In

• Unspecified

Fidelity Measures Provided by Publisher

• No

Research Summary

Several peer-reviewed publications have identified evidence to support the Developmental Assets framework. Several of the "assets" have been linked to positive youth outcomes. Specifically, one study identified school success, leadership, valuing diversity, physical health, helping others, delay of gratification, and overcoming adversity as significant predictors of youth success in 6,000 students in grades 6-12. In a Portuguese sample of 503 students, 32 of the 40 developmental assets showed a significant relationship with life satisfaction. A recent study analyzed survey data from 121,157 youth and identified evidence to suggest a slightly different configuration of "assets" impacting youth outcomes. Due to the methodology used in these studies, there is insufficient evidence to support the framework at this time.

Study Citations

Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Leffert, N., & Blyth, D. A. (2000). Contribution of Developmental Assets to the Prediction of Thriving Among Adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 4(1), 27–46. doi:10.1207/s1532480xads0401_3 

Soares, A. S., Pais-Ribeiro, J. L., & Silva, I. (2019). Developmental Assets Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00236 

Syvertsen, A. K., Scales, P. C., & Toomey, R. B. (2019). Developmental Assets framework revisited: Confirmatory analysis and invariance testing to create a new generation of assets measures for applied research. Applied Developmental Science, 1–16. doi:10.1080/10888691.2019.1613155 

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

• Insufficient evidence

Additional Reviews

• https://k12engagement.unl.edu/strategy-briefs/Developmental%20Assets%2010-3-14_3.pdf