Families: Asset Building Starts at Home

Families of all shapes and sizes play vital roles in ensuring that children and teenagers grow up strong, healthy, and asset rich. An asset-building approach has many benefits that many parents find give them a focus, inspiration, and encouragement when times get tough. (See some of their stories).

Search Institute has numerous practical resources for parents and those who work with them. In addition, Search Institute conducts research on parents and families, often in partnership with the YMCA of the USA.

Involved Parents Are the Real Heroes

Search Institute announces the launch of MVParents, a major new campaign that affirms involved parents as "the real heroes." Based on Search Institute's framework of Developmental Assets, the campaign features:

A TV commercial featuring Hall of Fame football legends Barry Sanders, Troy Aikman, Marcus Allen and John Elway.
A new Web site for parents, MVParents.com

Building Strong Families 2004

A Study of African American and Latino/Latina Parents in the United States (Released November 2004)

The vast majority of African American and Latino/Latina parents are working hard to raise strong, healthy, and successful children and adolescents, and most feel they are doing well as parents. Yet they are doing so in the face of multiple challenges in their communities and society. Furthermore, most have little support beyond their immediate family to help them as parents. Those are the major conclusions of this study of 685 African American parents and 639 Latino/Latina parents in the United States by Search Institute and YMCA of the USA. More information.

Building Strong Families 2002

A Preliminary Study from YMCA of the USA and Search Institute on What Parents Need to Succeed (Released November 2002)

Parents of children and teenagers are "going it alone," without the support, encouragement, and networks that would make it easier to overcome the daily challenges of parenting, according to a poll of 1,005 parents by YMCA of the USA and Search Institute. Most parents interviewed generally feel successful as parents most of the time, and they do many things to help their children grow up strong and healthy. However, they say that more support and affirmation from others would really help them as parents. More information.

More Information on Asset-Based Parenting

Search Institute's framework of Developmental Assets.
Read more practical articles on families.
Identify dynamics of strong adoptive families with teenagers.
Learn about books, videos, and other resources for parents and for organizations serving families.
Download "Raising Kids Who Read" - created by the Abundant Assets Alliance, this booklet reinforces the vital parent or adult-child relationship, and supports children's ability to read for fun and to become lifelong learners. Download "Raising Kids Who Read" in French.
YMCA Resources —For more information on family programs at your local YMCA, or for practical parenting resources from the YMCA Strong Families Zone, go to www.ymca.net.