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Support
  1. Family Support- Family life provides high levels of love and support.
  2. Positive family communication- Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).
  3. Other adult relationships - Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.
  4. Caring neighborhood- young person experiences caring neighbors.
  5. Caring school climate- School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
  6. Parent involvement in schooling- Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.
Empowerment
  1. Community values youth- Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.
  2. Youth as resources- Young people are given useful roles in the community.
  3. Service to others- Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.
  4. Safety- Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
Boundaries and Expectations
  1. Family boundaries- Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts.
  2. School boundaries- School provides clear rules and consequences.
  3. Neighborhood boundaries- Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior.
  4. Adult role models - Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
  5. Positive peer influence- Young person's best friends model responsible behavior.
  6. High expectations- Both parent(s) and teachers encourge the young person to do well.
Constructive Use of Time
  1. Creative activities- Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.
  2. Youth programs- Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in the community.
  3. Religious community- Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution.
  4. Time at home-Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week.
Commitment to Learning
  1. Achievement motivation- Young person is movitated to do well in school.
  2. School engagement- Young person is actively engaged in learning.
  3. Homework- Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.
  4. Bonding to school- Young person cares about her or his school.
  5. Reading for pleasure- Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
Positive Values
  1. Caring- Young person places high value on helping other people.
  2. Equality and social justice- Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.
  3. Integrity - Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.
  4. Honesty - Young person "tells the truth even when it is not easy."
  5. Responsibility - Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.
  6. Restraint - Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.
Social Competencies
  1. Planning and decision making - Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
  2. Interpersonal competencies - Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
  3. Cultural competence - Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
  4. Resistance skills - Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
  5. Peaceful conflict resolution - Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
Positive Identity
  1. Personal Power - Young person feels he or she has control over "things that happen to me."
  2. Self-esteem - Young person reports having a high self-esteem.
  3. Sense of purpose - Young person reports that "my life has a purpose."
  4. Positive view of personal future - Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.

Source: Search Institute, 700 South Third Street, Suite 210, Minneopolis, MN 55415 - 1997