Palo Alto Project Safety Net Using the 41 Developmental Assets as an Overall Framework to Support Teen Mental Health in our Community

What Are the 41 Developmental Assets? Originally developed by Search Institute in Minnesota Years of testing and validation with millions of youth Embodied in Project Cornerstone in Santa Clara County (see brochure)

What Are the 41 Developmental Assets? Defined as the positive relationships, opportunities, values and skills that young people need to grow up caring and responsible Assets include both external (which we can affect!) and internal (resulting feelings in youth)

Why Use the Developmental Assets with Project Safety Net? Approach will provide common language for community dialogue Allows for comprehensive, community-wide approach to improving teens’ lives Focused on causal building blocks for teen mental health, not just behaviors (though that is also crucial)

Why Use the Developmental Assets for PSN (continued)? Opportunity to do student testing in PAUSD schools for $500/school in the Fall of 2010 (federal grant will pay for actual surveys) Data is PREDICTIVE and can be compared between Palo Alto schools and with the county Can leverage best practices from other communities

Why Use the Developmental Assets for PSN (continued)? Developmental assets approach is already used at some secondary schools, the YMCA, the recreation department, and YCS Can map well to some of Project Safety Net’s 22 (suggest changing to 23—adding “Community Education”) efforts Help transition task force from “suicide avoidance” to “positively affecting teen mental health” Provide ways to measure progress

Why Use the Developmental Assets for PSN (continued)? Developmental assets can enhance and unify some Project Safety Net strategies around teen mental health; however, they WILL NOT replace key suicide avoidance activities like screening, reduction in the lethal means to self-harm, and mental health training for teachers. These must be continued.

Examples of 41 Developmental Assets and PSN Efforts Project Safety Net Strategy Developmental Assets E-2 Parent Education Family Support Positive Family Communication Family Boundaries E-5 (suggested new) Community Education Other Adult Relationships Caring Neighborhood Community Values Youth P-3 Character Education & Resilience Skill Building Programs Youth As Resources Service to Others Adult Role Models

Specific Possible Activities To Affect an Asset (Examples) Other Caring Adults Articles in Weekly, Daily News Fliers at community events, farmer’s markets “Have you helped a teen today?” Caring Neighborhood Inclusion in PANDA training Articles for neighborhood newsletters More from Kevin Skelly (recent neighborhood article sent to parents)

How Will We Measure Progress of PSN? Outcomes on the asset survey over time Other metrics might include school referrals, ACS information, CHKS and Reality check data, crisis line calls, “gut check” surveys of local providers, school counselors; etc. Besides lists of activities undertaken, how else can we measure progress?

Becoming Asset Builders A broad swath of the community, including anyone on the task force, can become Asset Builders for our community. Please join the effort and we’ll lead the way so everyone can help make the Palo Alto area a better place for its teens!