MINNEAPOLIS, October 6, 2011 — Do you want to increase your likelihood of helping kids succeed? Peter Benson and the Search Institute left a legacy of wisdom for you. For raising kids, they reduced trial and error and increased the science. Their most famous work is “Developmental Youth Assets.”
Early in my career I was a professional youth development worker. In one position I provided leadership for a 4-H youth development program with 480 youth ages 9-19. And I was 21 years old, fresh out of college, and needed all the help I could get. Benson had my back, even if he didn’t know it personally.
Peter Benson, President of the Search Institute until his death this past week, became one of my go-to sources. His presentations and materials were refreshingly coherent and practical. I had great success with young people by implementing his ideas into the youth development program.
Now I am the parent of two teenagers and Benson still has my back. Here are a few of his specific ideas that our family supports:
· Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
· Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in community organizations.
· Young person receives support from three or more non-parent adults.
Now, these may be just practical, common sense ideas, you might say. Yet my husband tells the story about when he was a kid caught reading and told, “Quit wasting your time and get back to work.” Having a framework that positively names what is an asset for youth can change parenting.
"The Developmental Assets are 40 common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible, successful adults. Its basis is in youth development, resiliency, and prevention research and its proven effectiveness," according to the Search Institute.
Our family is now focused on the “40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents” identified by the Search Institute. Depending on the age of your children or grandchildren, you can also find information on Early Childhood (ages 3-5), Grades K-3, and Middle Childhood (ages 8-12).
Search Institute adds, "These lists of assets represent everyday wisdom about positive experiences and characteristics for young people. Search Institute research has found that these assets are powerful influences on adolescent behavior—both protecting young people from many different risky behaviors, and promoting positive attitudes and actions."
Over the years, the work of Peter Benson and his colleagues has taken root in many ways and places.
Here is an excerpt from a news release from the Search Institute:
“The Developmental Assets has become the most widely recognized approach to positive youth development in the United States and, increasingly, around the world. Dr. Benson’s vision, research, and public voice inspired a ‘sea change’ in research, practice, and policy. His work has guided more than 500 community-based initiatives in 45 states and every Canadian province, and on six continents.
“The approach has been embraced by most national youth-serving systems and is embedded in the curriculum in numerous colleges and universities. It influences state, national, and international public policy in education, juvenile justice, public health, substance abuse prevention, and other youth-related fields.”
Peter’s life was a testament to helping kids succeed by sharing wisdom with adults in their lives. He was a role model for academics by making information available beyond research journals. In this commercialized world, he was a proponent for access of information by posting it for free on a website. And he was a culturally competent leader, translating information into many languages.
When I read Benson’s obituary the image that came to mind was the “What Kids Need: Youth Assets,” the laminated chart that was posted in our church kitchen. Each time I would have my coffee, I would see that chart. Some of the positive adults in my children’s life came our church. They too read the chart and saw that non-related adults were needed in the lives of young people.
Thanks, Peter, for the chart and so much more.
Read more from Donna Rae Scheffert at Washington Times Communities and Online Leadership Tools. Donna Rae is an award winning writer, consultant, planner, facilitator, and coach. One Minnesota organization gave her a coveted ‘Futures’ award. Another named her the 2002 Outstanding Faculty member. She has co-authored five books and numerous articles. She is the founder of the consulting firm Leadership Tools.
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