Developmental Assets

The Centennial Recreation Center strives to help adults connect with youth in a positive way that helps young people thrive. We believe they are essential elements that are crucial to the healthy development of young people. We call these elements "Developmental Assets." They are an integral part of all of our programs and services.

Most people think of assets in terms of property or financial resources. Developmental assets are the positive relationships, opportunities, values and skills that young people need to grow up caring and responsible.

Developmental Asset List
Years of research by the Search Institute of Minneapolis have identified 40 "developmental assets" that have a proven relationship to healthy youth development. With input from our diverse community members, Project Cornerstone has added a 41st asset - positive cultural identify to the framework we use locally. These assets include both external experiences which provide young people with support, empowerment and boundaries and the internal values, strengths and commitments that they need in order to thrive.

As Asset Charts demonstrate, there is a direct relationship between increasing the number of assets and decreasing the incidence of high risk behaviors, such as violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

View the full asset list