Ideas and Resources for Young Adult Programming

							Ideas and Resources for Young Adult Programming

Search Institute of Minneapolis, MN. 40 Developmental Assets. http://search-institute.org

The Search Institute identifies these building blocks of healthy development that help
young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible. The 40 Developmental Assets are
divided into two main categories, 20 Internal Assets and 20 External Assets. Within each
main category are sub-categories. 20 Internal Assets discusses support, empowerment,
boundaries and expectations, and constructive use of time. 20 External Assets discusses
commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. The
assets help us to assist our youngsters to grow into strong, responsible members of
society by building relationships within their familiar settings of family, friends and
school and also by reaching out to the community.

While all 40 Developmental Assets hold merit, some of the important assets to focus on
while helping your teen patrons are as follows:
    Support: Other adult relationships – Young person receives support from three or
       more non-parent adults.
    Empowerment: Community values youth – Young person perceives that adults in
       the community value youth.
                       Service to Others – Young person serves in the community, one
                       hour or more per week.
                       Safety – Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the
                       neighborhood.
    Boundaries & Expectations: Adult role models – Parent(s) and other adults model
       positive, responsible behavior.
    Constructive Use of Time: Youth programs – Young person spends three or more
       hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in the
       community.
    Commitment to Learning: Achievement motivation – Young person is motivated
       to do well in school.
    Positive Values: Integrity, Honesty, Responsibility and Restraint
    Social Competencies:
    Positive Identity: Personal Power, Self-esteem, Sense of purpose and Positive
       view of personal future.

Programming ideas and suggestions:
    Mother/Daughter Book Club
    Database awareness for teens
    Teen Game Night: Using the resource 101+ Teen Programs That Work by
      RoseMary Honnold
         o It’s a Love Match: Match celebrity couples using popular magazine
             photos.
         o It’s a Love Song: Use popular music stars or a “name that tune” version
             where the teens identify the song.
         o Jeopardy, Pictionary, Clue – personalize these to the teens of your library
o Tie Dying at the Library – if it is a mess, they will love it!