In Santa Clara county, we are fortunate to have many individuals and organizations working to build assets with young people. For example, non-profits provide after-school programs and counseling; faith communities host youth groups and family activities; city and county agencies provide recreation programs and mental health and drug & alcohol service; businesses and community service associations contribute financial and volunteer resources to mentor and provide scholarships; foundations and corporations invest in education and non-profits working with children and youth; schools provide not only academics but also important opportunities for students to learn and grow as whole people, etc. Every organization and individual plays an important role, and together we provide a full continuum of asset-building supports for our children and youth.

After reviewing the developmental assets framework, some organizations respond, “We’ve doing this all along...it isn’t new...it’s not rocket science. What’s the big deal?” On the other end of the spectrum, other organizations feel that the developmental assets framework and the concept of asset building is exactly what they have been looking for to reflect the breadth and depth of their work with children and youth. We, at Project Cornerstone, agree with both perspectives. The developmental assets framework provides the research backing to the common sense, strength-based approach to child and youth development that many organizations already employ. In this way, it helps many organizations to enhance what they are already doing and to “make the case” for their important work. It also provides a common language that can help various organizations to work together more effectively to achieve our shared goal of promoting the healthy development of all children and youth.

What can the assets approach do for you and your organization?

Whether you have been familiar with the assets framework for many years or you are just beginning to learn about developmental assets, there are many opportunities to enhance your organization’s results by incorporating the assets approach into your work and sharing it with others as a common language to facilitate your collaboration. The assets approach draws on best practices and builds on the work your organization is already doing. We challenge all organizations to not only support the developmental assets framework, but to weave it into the fabric of your organizational culture and practice from planning and decision-making to resource development/investment, to program delivery/business operations, to evaluation and communications. The shift from being an organization that supports youth to an asset-rich organization, can truly change the nature and quality of your work.

This section highlights two key areas in building an asset-rich organization:

• Structural changes- examples of checklists and evaluation tools to help groups identify their strengths and blind spots to becoming asset-rich organizations.
• Partnership cultivation- tips for developing strong youth-adult partnerships.

A few thoughts to keep in mind as you identify how your organization can build assets:
Young people need positive relationships with adults. To build assets with young people, we need to have a positive relationships with them. The trust and respect established through relationships is very important when you provide advice or information or offer support to young people.
Young people need supportive environments. Young people need to feel welcomed, safe and accepted in supportive environments in programs at school, home and in their neighborhoods and faith communities.

• Young people need programs and activities that promote asset building. While young people develop assets through informal relationships and experiences, programs provide focused activities for youth to gain new skills and understanding, to build relationships with their peers and adults and to develop a sense of belonging to a group or community. Programs provide structured settings in which youth can feel safe to explore issues and take risks and learn and grow from both their mistakes and their successes.
• Adults can’t build assets FOR young people, they must be built in partnership WITH young people. We need to shift from doing things for and to children and youth to involving young people as partners in our organizations and programs. When young people have leadership opportunities and adults serve as supporters and coaches, everyone grows and learns from the process and the powerful results!