Developmental Assets

It takes a community to ensure that our local children develop the skills and abilities needed to thrive and become contributing members of the community. As the core of the community, LaSalle-Peru Township High School is taking the lead in developing a community-wide effort to providing the assets young people need.

In fall 2017, LPHS surveyed it's students using the Search Institute's Attitudes and Behaviors survey to develop a baseline of our students' perception of their community as well as the internal assets they already possess.

The Attitudes and Behaviors (A&B) survey measures eight principal asset domains: support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. In addition to measuring Developmental Assets, the survey also measures thriving indicators (succeeds in school, helps others, values diversity, maintains good health, exhibits leadership, resists danger, delays gratification, overcomes adversity), developmental deficits (alone at home, TV overexposure, physical abuse, victim of violence, drinking parties), and risk-taking behaviors (e.g., substance use, sexual activity, antisocial behavior).

LPHS is now partnering with numerous community members and organizations to use the data acquired through the survey to develop new strategies to support asset-building activities and programs within the community, as well as support those that already exist.

Studies of more than 5 million young people across the United States (as well as studies in other countries) consistently show that the more Developmental Assets young people have, the more likely they are to be prepared for life and the less likely they are to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors.

Learn more about the Search Institute and Developmental Assets here.