Naperville Benchmark Survey (return to KidsMatter website)
40 Developmental Assets

Search Institute has identified the following building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. National Percentages of young people who experience each asset represent almost 100,000 6th to 12th grade youth surveyed in 213 towns and cities in the United States. Naperville Percentages represent 8058 students in Naperville's School District 203 surveyed in November of 1998.

Asset Type	Asset Name	Definition	Percentage National - Naperville
Support	1. Family support 2. Positive family communication 3. Other adult relationships 4. Caring neighborhood 5. Caring school climate 6. Parent involvement in schooling	Family life provides high levels of love and support. Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s). Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults. Young person experiences caring neighbors. School provides a caring, encouraging environment. Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.	64% - 73% 26% - 33% 41% - 48% 40% - 45% 24% - 32% 29% - 35%
Empowerment	7. Community values youth 8. Youth as resources 9. Service to others l0. Safety	Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth. Young people are given useful roles in the community. Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week. Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.	20% - 25% 24% - 33% 50% - 50% 55% - 54%
Boundaries and expectations	11. Family boundaries 12. School boundaries 13. Neighborhood boundaries 14. Adult role models 15. Positive peer influence 16. High expectations	Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts. School provides clear rules and consequences. Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior. Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior. Young person's best friends model responsible behavior. Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.	43% - 50% 46% - 57% 46% - 52% 27% - 35% 60% - 76% 41% - 48%
Constructive use of time	17. Creative activities 18. Youth programs 19. Religious community 20. Time at home	Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts. Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in the community. I Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution. Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week.	19% - 22% 59% - 69% 64% - 67% 50% - 53%
Commitment to learning	21. Achievement motivation 22. School engagement 23. Homework 24. Bonding to school 25. Reading for pleasure	Young person is motivated to do well in school. Young person is actively engaged in learning. Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day. Young person cares about his or her school. Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.	63% - 75% 64% - 67% 45% - 69% 51% - 63% 24% - 31%
Positive values	26. Caring 27. Equality and social justice 28. Integrity 29. Honesty 30. Responsibility 31. Restraint	Young person places high value on helping other people. Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty. Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs. Young person "tells the truth even when it is not easy." Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility. Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.	43% - 51% 45% - 51% 63% - 72% 63% - 67% 60% - 63% 42% - 58%
Social Competencies	32. Planning and decision making 33. Interpersonal competence 34. Cultural competence 35. Resistance skills 36. Peaceful conflict resolution	Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices. Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills. Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds. Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations. Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.	29% - 38% 43% - 51% 35% - 44% 37% - 51% 44% - 54%
Positive Identity	37. Personal power 38. Self-esteem 39. Sense of purpose 40. Positive view of personal future	Young person feels he or she has control over "things that happen to me." Young person reports having a high self-esteem. Young person reports that "my life has a purpose." Young person is optimistic about his or her personal future.	45% - 52% 47% - 54% 55% - 63% 70% - 76%

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