Developmental assets model: Implications for educational practice

Abstract

The Developmental assets (DA) model is one of the leading framework derived from the Positive Youth Development perspective. It acknowledges the importance of addressing multiple factors in reaching positive development outcomes and the abscence of different behaviour problems in children and youth, as well as the necessity of involving several social domains when designing programs and interventions, thus involving relevant subjects that affect the development of children and youth (Benson, 2003; Catalano, Berglund, Ryan, Lonczak, & Hawkins, 2002; Catalano, Hawkins, Berglund, Pollard, & Arthur, 2002; Shek, Sun, & Merrick, 2012). The DA model was developed at the end of 20th and the beginning of 21st century by the Search Institute research team lead by Peter Benson, and it rests on the assumption that all children and youth need quality “building blocks” in order to avoid different risks in their development and later adulthood, and to reach positive development target goals or outcomes (Benson, 1990; ..........