Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-mails for Sharing the Asset Message

ENGLISH + SPANISH

Spread the message of Developmental Assets—in an instant!

With Instant Assets, you have 52 ready-made e-mail messages about the

Instant Assets includes: 40 messages dedicated to each of the 40 assets A message about the internal assets A message about the external assets Eight messages dedicated to each of the eight asset categories Two general messages about assets, why they are important, and how to build them with and for young people.

All messages in Instant Assets are in BOTH English and Spanish. Plus, it includes symbols for each asset category and the Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth logo, allowing you to add visual appeal to your messages.

“ This is a quick and easy educational

tool that can be used to build a community that is asset aware. Plus, it provides action steps that each person can use to make a difference in the lives of young people.

”

Nick Cross, MSW, Manager of Communications and Fund Development, Girl Scouts of Wapehani Council, Inc., Daleville, Indiana

“ Instant Assets is an easy-to-use

Instant Assets

Developmental Assets® at your fingertips. All you have to do is copy, paste, and send! You can share these messages with parents, teachers, youth organization staff, and other adults you want to educate about the assets.

Send them as they are or customize them to suit your own goals and audience. Each message contains special asset-building tips for use at home, in the community, at school, and in a youth program.

Instant Assets

resource in a format that allows widespread distribution and sharing of information about assets.

”

Debi McGregor, Community Initiatives Coordinator, United Way of Marathon County, Wausau, Wisconsin

52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message S E A R C H

Instant Assets_DVDwrap.indd 1

I N ST I T U T E

P R E S S

2/21/07 11:10:33 AM

Subject: The Hopeful Message of the 40 Developmental Assets Everyone has the power to help young people succeed The secret to helping children and youth grow into happy, healthy, and responsible adults isn’t really a secret at all. Simply make a point to connect with young people: Get to know them, talk to them, understand them, help them, and build relationships with them.

As a caring, trusted adult, you’ll be better able to provide the building blocks young people need to succeed and reach their goals. Adult role models, guides, and friends are very important to young people. With your help, young people can begin to understand themselves and the world around them. We all know growing up isn’t always easy.

That’s why young people need adults like you in their lives.

Here are the facts Research from Search Institute identifies 40 Developmental Assets that have a powerful, positive impact on young people. Children and teenagers who have high levels of these assets get involved in fewer risky behaviors and are much more likely to exhibit the positive values, such as leadership, good health, diversity, and success in school. The bad news is most young people don’t have enough assets. About 59 percent of young people, ages 11–18, have 20 or fewer Developmental Assets, according to Search Institute surveys. The good news is we can change this because we all have the power to build assets in young people’s lives.

Understanding Developmental Assets The eight asset categories Search Institute has found crucial in helping young people grow up healthy include: • • • • • • • •

Support: Young people need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate, and accept them.

Empowerment: Young people need to feel valued and valuable. This happens when youth feel safe and respected.

Boundaries and Expectations: Young people need clear rules, consistent consequences for breaking rules, and encouragement to do their best.

Constructive Use of Time: Young people need opportunities—outside of school—to learn and develop new skills and interests with other youth and adults.

Commitment to Learning: Young people need a sense of the lasting importance of learning and a belief in their own abilities.

Positive Values: Young people need to develop strong guiding values to help them make healthy life choices.

Social Competencies: Young people need the skills to interact effectively with others, to make difficult decisions, and to cope with new situations.

Positive Identity: Young people need to believe in their own self-worth and to feel they have control over the things that happen to them.

Each of these categories involves several specific assets that help young people grow up healthy.

Tips for building assets In your home and family: Post a list of the 40 Developmental Assets on your refrigerator door. Each day, do at least one thing to build assets for each family member.

In your neighborhood and community: Learn the names of the young people who live around you. Find out what interests them, and ask them about those interests.

In your school or youth program: Plan asset-building activities as part of the curriculum or program. For example, engage young people in service-learning projects, social skills training, or reading for pleasure.

Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.

------------------------Developmental AssetsŽ are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright Š 2007 by Search InstituteŽ , 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

Subject: Asset 1: Family Support Love and support: The family foundation You can show the children in your family that you love and support them in many ways.

When you hug them or say, “I love you,” the sentiment is obvious. Paying attention to them, listening to them, and taking an interest in what they’re doing are less noticeable ways of giving support. After all, does your child feel supported when you come home from an exhausting day, and he or she wants to talk—but you want a break? The young people closest to you know your body language. They listen to what you say—and don’t say. They notice when your words and actions don’t match. Make it a point to be sure they hear your message of love and support loud and clear at all times. Family Support is Asset 1 of Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

Here are the facts Research shows that young people are more likely to grow up healthy when their families provide them with high levels of love and support. It’s important for parents and guardians to create a home environment that fosters loving words and actions, consistency, and openness. About 68 percent of young people, ages 11–18, say their family life provides high levels of love and support, according to Search Institute surveys. Spending quality time together is the first—and most important—step toward establishing a great family support system.

Tips for building this asset Be consistent. Be loving. Develop openness so that the children in your family know that you’re available and you’ll love them—no matter what. If you’re exhausted or angry, say so. Tell children what you’re feeling so that your body language and words are consistent. Inconsistent messages are often misinterpreted by youth to mean that they have done something wrong.

Also try this In your home and family: Spend one hour a week alone with each of your children. Take a walk, listen to music, cook together, or just hang out.

In your neighborhood and community: Try to arrange a babysitting swap with a neighbor. It’s important for parents and guardians to have time away from children, doing things they enjoy alone and with other adults. This will make family time that much sweeter.

In your school or youth program: Assign students and participants activities that encourage family sharing. For example, one Minnesota class studying a Native American tribe learned that tribal members passed down stories from one

generation to the next. The teacher assigned students to ask their parents for family stories to share with the class.

Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.

------------------------Developmental AssetsŽ are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright Š 2007 by Search InstituteŽ , 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

Subject: The Empowerment Category of Developmental Assets Give young people a chance to show you what they can do Feeling valued and appreciated is important to all of us. For young people, this means feeling safe and believing they’re liked and respected. These feelings can go a long way toward empowering children and youth. Providing opportunities and recognizing accomplishments helps young people build self-esteem. This in turn, gives them the confidence to share their ideas, knowledge, and creativity by volunteering and working in paid jobs. By paying attention to young people, you show that you value them.

Empowerment is one of the eight asset categories that make up Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

Here are the facts Research shows the more young people are valued and feel valuable, the more likely they are to grow up healthy and avoid risky behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use, violence, and early sexual activity. Search Institute has identified four assets in the Empowerment category crucial for helping young people grow up healthy: Community Values Youth, Youth as Resources, Service to Others, and Safety.

Tips for building these assets It’s not always easy to know what it takes for young people to feel empowered.

Sometimes young people doubt themselves or don’t feel valued despite the good intentions of and recognition from caring adults. Communicate with young people openly and honestly about relationships, politics, religion, and other serious issues. Young people need to know that their questions and concerns are valid and important.

Also try this In your home and family: Empower your child by providing choices. Have regular family meetings to plan, solve problems, and encourage one another. Rotate who leads the meetings.

In your neighborhood and community: Get involved in the community and advocate for developing meaningful opportunities for young people, such as volunteer projects and civic activities.

In your school or youth program: Take a field trip to a nursing home or senior housing complex. Have students and group members perform a concert, and afterwards talk to residents and learn about their present situations, as well as their pasts. Ask participants to send thank you notes to the residents they met. Also encourage the young people to discuss what they learned from their visit and what they contributed to the lives of the residents.

Want to know more about Search Institute’s other seven asset categories or the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.

------------------------Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright © 2007 by Search Institute® , 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

ENGLISH + SPANISH

Spread the message of Developmental Assets—in an instant!

With Instant Assets, you have 52 ready-made e-mail messages about the

Instant Assets includes: 40 messages dedicated to each of the 40 assets A message about the internal assets A message about the external assets Eight messages dedicated to each of the eight asset categories Two general messages about assets, why they are important, and how to build them with and for young people.

All messages in Instant Assets are in BOTH English and Spanish. Plus, it includes symbols for each asset category and the Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth logo, allowing you to add visual appeal to your messages.

“ This is a quick and easy educational

tool that can be used to build a community that is asset aware. Plus, it provides action steps that each person can use to make a difference in the lives of young people.

”

Nick Cross, MSW, Manager of Communications and Fund Development, Girl Scouts of Wapehani Council, Inc., Daleville, Indiana

“ Instant Assets is an easy-to-use

Instant Assets

Developmental Assets® at your fingertips. All you have to do is copy, paste, and send! You can share these messages with parents, teachers, youth organization staff, and other adults you want to educate about the assets.

Send them as they are or customize them to suit your own goals and audience. Each message contains special asset-building tips for use at home, in the community, at school, and in a youth program.

Instant Assets

resource in a format that allows widespread distribution and sharing of information about assets.

”

Debi McGregor, Community Initiatives Coordinator, United Way of Marathon County, Wausau, Wisconsin

52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message S E A R C H

Instant Assets_DVDwrap.indd 1

I N ST I T U T E

P R E S S

2/21/07 11:10:33 AM