A Brief Introduction to Asset Building

Asset Building

The 40 Developmental Assets are research based life experiences or building blocks, which all children need to grow up healthy, caring and responsible. Research shows that the higher number of these assets a young person has, the more likely they are to thrive, engaging in positive behaviors. Research also shows that the lower number of these assets a young person has, the more likely they are to engage in risky behaviors.

When a child is exposed to the necessary building blocks of healthy development, they are better equipped with coping mechanisms that help them flourish, making it possible to manage stressors, even when there are boundaries caused by mental health problems.  Our goal is to increase the number of assets children have. We will do this by creating awareness, offering education sessions, and developing activities that engage children, youth and families.

Vision:                                               

To focus on the development of healthy children and youth by increasing protective factors and reducing risk factors.

Mission:

To educate and excite our community on building blocks that all children and youth need in order to thrive, which includes the 40 Developmental Assets and healthy lifestyles.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. PURPOSE

1.1  To provide a consultative forum focusing and developing and/or strengthening  developmental assets of youth;

1.2  To identify and focus on developmental gaps in the community to reduce opportunity for risky behaviours;

1.3  To provide opportunities for a forum to consider developmental asset issues that may be relevant to group members and their constituents

1.4  To maximise opportunities for partnerships, networking and information sharing about asset development of youth.

1.5  To develop and implement activities, projects and initiatives focused on asset development, promoting protective factors and reducing risk factors.

1.6  AHS staff are members and/or devote work time to the coalition;

1.7  The coalition involves coordinated actions and/or roles for the involved partners.

1.8  Good communication by this group – in speaking, in writing, and through the media – is crucial to the success of an asset development effort

2. MEMBERSHIP

The group should contain people from all sectors of the community. It is important that all make the commitment to attend and participate in the coalition as we work toward building community capacity for youth.

2.1 The group comprises:

Alberta Health Services

Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership

Central AB Crime Prevention Centre

Red Deer Public School District

City of Red Deer

RCMP 

Community Members

SPARC Sylvan Lake

Family Services of Central AB

Suicide Information & Education Services

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

Red Deer College

2.2 Internal or external persons may be invited to attend meetings at the request of the chair to provide advice and assistance considered necessary.

3. Structure

3.1 Chair Role

Prepare agendas and issue notices for meetings and ensuring all documentation for discussion or comment are attached to the agenda.

Distribute the Agenda one week prior to the meeting.

Maintain membership list

3.2 Recording Minute Taker

Record minutes from meetings and distributes to membership.

May rotate.

4. DURATION OF MEETINGS

Meetings will be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month.

5. FUNCTIONS

At each meeting there will be a standard agenda consisting of:

• Brief updates of activities including identification of emerging issues 
• Debate, clarify, comment and make recommendations on opportunities for youth asset development and/or reducing risky behaviours and promoting healthy behaviours.