Our Approach

POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Positive Youth Development 

The Positive Youth Development approach engages youth with peers, family and community in a way that enhances their strengths and promotes positive outcomes. It can also be used as an approach to prevention that encourages healthy decisions.

A positive youth development approach to prevention is an effective, evidence based way to look at the opioid epidemic and how we can prevent future harm to our youth.  Specifically, it uses a whole community approach rather than just relying on schools and social services agencies.

Being a part of the ECAB Network brings local and regional opportunities.  Locally, communities have access to trainings, data, and best practices, and receive guidance on implementation and outreach strategies that build positive youth development possibilities.  Communities also get the benefit of regionalizing efforts, where networking, combining resources, current policies, and a shared vision strengthen the towns and cities as well as the region.

Strategic Prevention Framework imagine used from samhsa.gov

assessment

capacity building

implementation

i

evaluation

cultural responsiveness

sustainability

Developmental Assets Framework

Developed by the Search Institute, the Developmental Assets Framework identifies 40 research-based, positive experiences and qualities that influence young people’s development, helping them become caring, responsible, and productive adults.

Grounded in extensive research in youth development, resiliency, and prevention, Developmental Assets® are the 40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to succeed. Half of the assets are external, focusing on the relationships and opportunities they need in their families, schools, and communities. The other half are internal, focusing on the social-emotional strengths, values, and commitments that are nurtured within young people.

When young people have more Developmental Assets® they are more likely to thrive now and in the future, less likely to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors, and more likely to be resilient in the face of challenges.

For more, explore Search Institute’s ongoing Developmental Assets research.

Developmental Asset Categories 

SUPPORT

Young people need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate, and accept them.

EMPOWERMENT

Young people need to feel valued and valuable. This happens when youth feel safe and respected.

BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Young people need clear rules, consistent consequences for breaking rules, and encouragement to do their best.

CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME

Young people need opportunities, outside of school, to learn and develop new skills and interests with other youth and adults.

COMMITMENT TO LEARNING

Young people need a sense of the lasting importance of learning and a belief in their own abilities.

POSITIVE VALUES

Young people need to develop strong guiding values to help them make healthy life choices.

SOCIAL COMPETENCIES

Young people need the skills to interact effectively with others, to make difficult decisions, and to cope with new situations.

POSITIVE IDENTITY

Young people need to believe in their own self-worth and to feel they have control over the things that happen to them.

This Area is Widget-Ready

You can place here any widget you want!

You can also display any layout saved in Divi Library.

Let’s try with contact form:

About Us The Essex County Asset Builder (ECAB) Network creates regional connections and supports for individuals, families and organizations from Amesbury, Georgetown, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury and Newburyport, in using a positive youth development approach to help youth thrive. Positive Youth Development Being a part of the ECAB Network brings local and regional opportunities.  Locally, communities have access to trainings, data, and best practices, and receive guidance on implementation and outreach strategies that build positive youth development possibilities.  Communities also get the benefit of regionalizing efforts, where networking, combining resources, current policies, and a shared vision strengthen the towns and cities as well as the region. History Recently, the communities of Amesbury, Georgetown, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury and Newburyport came together to form the Essex County Asset Builder Network.  Funded by a three year grant, the goal of this Network is to create a common language of asset- based youth development (creating protective factors). It has been shown that youth who have more assets are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.  This grant will use the 40 Developmental Assets framework to build these protective factors and reduce risk behaviors by focusing on both the youth and the environment that shapes them. The community partnership will enhance the great work already being done to support youth and families, as well as expand community supports, opportunities, and resources. Additionally, the grant will collect and disseminate regional data, coordinate shared resources and bring educational opportunities for various sectors of the community. Goal To spread the philosophy and practice of the positive youth development approach through implementation of 40 Developmental Asset framework within communities across the region. We will accomplish this goal by: Mission To use a positive youth development approach to build networks within each community and across the region that help decrease risk behaviors in youth and produce a healthier community. Vision A network of communities that welcome, value and empower youth through meaningful opportunities and collaborative efforts to support and strengthen youth assets and increase healthy decision making.