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Developmental Assets
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District provides support for each student through a movement called Developmental Assets, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up to be healthy, caring, and responsible individuals. This movement affects the culture of the district, the climate of every school, and defines how adults interact with all young people. Our goal is to connect every Murrieta student with an adult in a caring, genuine and respectful relationship. It is through those relationships that Developmental Assets can be built, resulting in higher levels of student success and reduced incidents of at-risk behavior.
The Developmental Assets are building blocks that have a high level of influence on adolescent behavior by promoting positive attitudes and behaviors that dissuade young people from engaging in problem behaviors. The Search Institute, a group dedicated to positive youth development, identified the assets and found that when in place, the assets result in higher levels of achievement and reduced incidents of at-risk behavior.External Assets
The external assets are the positive experiences young people receive from the world around them. They identify important roles that families and schools can play in promoting healthy development.
Internal Assets
The internal assets are about positive values and identities, social competencies, and commitment to learning. Internal assets will help young people make thoughtful and positive choices and, in turn, be better prepared for situations in life that challenge their inner strength and confidence.
External Assets Category # Asset Definition Support 1 Family Support Family life provides high levels of love and support 2 Positive family communication Young person and his/her parent(s) communicate positively and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parents(s) 3 Other adult relationships Young person receives support from three or more non-parent adults 4 Caring neighborhood Young person experiences caring neighbors 5 Caring school climate School provides a caring, encouraging environment 6 Parent Involvement in schooling Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school Empowerment 7 Community values youth Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth 8 Youth as resources Young people are given useful roles in the community. 9 Service to others Young person serves in the community one hour or more a week 10 Safety Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood Boundaries and Expectations 11 Family boundaries Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts 12 School boundaries School provides clear rules and consequences 13 Neighborhood boundaries School provides clear rules and consequences 14 Adult role models Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behaviors 15 Positive peer influence Young person's best friends model responsible behavior 16 High expectations Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well Constructive use of time 17 Creative activities Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theatre, or other arts 18 Youth programs Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs or organizations at school and/or in the community. 19 Religious community Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs or organizations at school and/or in the community. 20 Time at home Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week Internal Assets Category # Asset Definition Commitment to Learning 21 Achievement motivation Young person is motivated to do well in school 22 School engagement Young person is actively engaged in learning 23 Homework Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day 24 Bonding to school Young person cares about his/her school 25 Reading for pleasure Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week Positive Values 26 Caring Young person places high value on helping other people 27 Equality and social justice Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty 28 Integrity Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs 29 Honesty Young person "tells the truth even when it is not easy." 30 Responsibility Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility 31 Restraint Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs Social Competencies 32 Planning and decision making Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices 33 Interpersonal competence Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills 34 Cultural competence Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds 35 Resistance skills Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations 36 Peaceful conflict resolution Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently Positive Identity 37 Personal power Young person feels he or she has control over "things that happen to me" 38 Youth programs Young person reports having a high self-esteem 39 Sense of purpose Young person reports that "my life has a purpose." 40 Positive view of personal future Young person is optimistic about his/her personal future.