WHAT ARE FAMILY ASSETS? Search Institute has identified 21 research-­‐based family strengths—relationships and practices that help families thrive. The percentages indicate how many families experience each asset, based on a study of 1,511 diverse families, including at least one parenting adult and one child between the ages of 10 and 15 from across the U.S. Nurturing RELATIONSHIPS 1.
Positive Communication—Family members listen attentively and speak in respectful ways to each other. 56% 2.
Affection—Family members regularly show warmth to each other. 71% 3.
Emotional Openness—Family members can be themselves and are comfortable sharing their feelings. 54% 4.
Support for Sparks—Family members encourage each other in pursuing their own talents and interests. 64% Establishing ROUTINES 5.
Family Meals—Family members eat meals together most days in a typical week. 58% 6.
Shared Activities—Family members regularly spend time doing everyday activities together. 41% 7.
Meaningful Traditions—Holidays, rituals, and celebrations are part of family life. 51% 8.
Dependability—Family members know what to expect from one another. 27% Maintaining EXPECTATIONS 9.
Openness about Tough Topics—Family members openly discuss sensitive issues, such as sex and substance use. 60% 10. Fair Rules—Family rules and consequences are reasonable. 44% 11. Defined Boundaries—The family sets limits on what young people can do and how they spend their time. 28% 12. Clear Expectations—The family openly articulates its expectations for young people. 84% 13. Contributions to Family—Family members help meet each other’s needs and share in getting things done. 57% ADAPTING to Challenges 14. Management of Daily Commitments—Family members effectively navigate competing activities and expectations at home, school, and work. 41% 15. Adaptability—The family adapts well when faced with changes. 28% 16. Problem Solving—Family members work together to solve problems and deal with challenges. 33% 17. Democratic Decision Making—Family members have a say in decisions that affect the family. 53% Connecting to COMMUNITY 18. Neighborhood Cohesion—Neighbors look out for one another. 33% 19. Relationships with Others—Family members feel close to neighbors, teachers, and others in the community. 22% 20. Enriching Activities—Family members participate in programs and activities that deepen their lives. 56% 21. Supportive Resources—Family members have people and places in the community they can turn to for help. 45% Copyright © 2012 by Search Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. www.search-­‐institute.org KEY FINDINGS Levels of Family Assets in U.S. Families 1. Only one in ten families has very high (“thriving”) levels of Family Assets. Most score “challenged” or “adequate.” 11% Most families in this study had “challenged” or “adequate” levels of Family Assets, with only 11 percent having an “thriving” level, and 17% scoring “struggling.” The average score was 47 out of 100. 2. Families are more alike than different when it comes to overall levels of Family Assets. When comparing different subgroups of families, we find no meaningful differences in overall levels of Family Assets based on income, family structure (single-­‐parent or two-­‐parent; heterosexual or LGBT parenting adults), parents’ education level, region of the country, or immigrant status. 17% 34% 39% Struggling (0-­‐25) Challenged (26-­‐50) Adequate (51-­‐75) Thriving (76-­‐100) Overall Levels of Family Assets, by Family Demographics (Average score on a scale of 1 to 100) Household Income*† Under $24,999 48 High School or Less 45 $25,000–$34,999 43 Some College 50 $35,000–$49,999 46 Completed College 48 $50,000–$74,999 47 Graduate School 46 $75,000–$99,999 51 More than $100,000 48 Immigration Status* Race-­‐Ethnicity** Asian or Pacific Islander 44 Black or African American 50 Immigrant 49 Latino/Latina 50 Non-­‐Immigrant 47 White or Other Race-­‐Ethnicity 46 Single-­‐ vs. Two-­‐Parent Families* Parent Education* Urbanicity** One Parenting Adult 45 Rural 45 Two Parenting Adults 48 Suburban 45 Urban 51 * Statistical differences between these groups were not systematically different. ** Some differences between subgroups in these categories are statistically significant. African American and Latino/Latina families tend to have slightly higher levels of Family Assets than Asian American and White or families of other race-­‐ethnicities. Families living in urban areas tend to have slightly higher levels of Family Assets than families living in other settings. † Though levels of Family Assets did not vary based on actual family income, they did vary by the level of economic stress or strain a family experiences. The more economic stress families experience, the lower their overall level of Family Assets. Search Institute’s American Family Assets Study: Overview Page 2 3. When teens and parents report more Family Assets, they also tend to have more positive attitudes and behaviors, suggesting the Family Assets contribute to a wide range of positive outcomes. Percentage of YOUTH Reporting Behaviors and Well-­‐Being, by Levels of Family Assets Healthy Lifestyle 75 39 Caring Socially Responsibility 94 79 81 75 63 54 48 92 47 32 Level of Family Assets Level of Family Assets Level of Family Assets Young people get enough exercise, sleep, “downtime,” and they eat a healthy diet. Young people express concern for the feelings and well-­‐being of others. Young people feel obligated to improve the greater good. Percentage of PARENTING ADULT Reporting Behaviors and Well-­‐Being, by Levels of Family Assets Healthy Lifestyle Depression Family Volunteering 88 71 68 52 22 69 70 55 32 48 25 Level of Family Assets Level of Family Assets Parenting adults get enough exercise, sleep, “downtime,” and they eat a healthy diet. 54 Level of Family Assets Parenting adults often feel sad or depressed. The family helps other people 1–2 times in a typical month. Download the complete study from www.search-­‐institute.org/research/family-­‐well-­‐being Search Institute’s American Family Assets Study: Overview Page 3 DISCUSSION STARTERS ON FAMILY ASSETS Exploring the Study’s Key Findings •
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This study begins with the belief that we spend too much time focusing on families’ weaknesses and problems, and not enough time focusing on their strengths. How is that perspective consistent with or different from your own experiences? •
How do the study’s findings reflect what you see in the families you serve? •
Which of the Family Assets have been particularly important to you and your family? Which ones have been less important to you? What does reviewing this framework make you think about or wonder? In general, how much do your programs and practices focus on families’ challenges vs. their strengths? What value do you see in emphasizing strengths or assets? What are the risks? •
The study focuses on families with 10 to 15 year old youth. In what ways do you see the framework being relevant and useful to other families? What might be different among other families? Which of the Family Assets is your program most suited to intentionally address with the families you serve? What would be next steps in strengthening the ways your program addresses those assets? Discussion Starters for Community Leaders Discussion Starters for Your Family •
Discussion Starters for Those who Work with Families What are some of the qualities and experiences in your family that you most value? Where do you see those qualities reflected in the Family Assets? •
Everyone in a family contributes to building Family Assets. Look through the assets and identify ways that each family member has contributed to making three or four of the assets stronger in your family. •
Who are people and places outside of your immediate family who help your family build Family Assets? What do they do that is meaningful? •
Are there one or two of the Family Assets that you’d really like to work on in your family? What are concrete steps you can take together? •
What two or three key findings in the study have the most potential to stimulate positive action in your community? Who needs to hear those findings? •
How might families in your community look similar to or different from the families that were surveyed in The American Family Asset Study? How might a study focused just on families in your community reveal different results? •
What are ways that programs, services, or opportunities in your community make it easier or harder for families to build Family Assets? Think of specific examples. •
If your community could do just one or two things to help build Family Assets, what would be the most important thing to do first? OTHER RESOURCES FROM SEARCH INSTITUTE ParentFurther.com—ParentFurther is Search Institute’s website for parents that offers everyday steps for raising successful kids. The site includes: •
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Research-­‐based tips and tools for addressing dozens of parenting topics, from media and technology to family volunteering to bullying. Webinars on parenting and family topics, including a series on family assets. A free electronic newsletter with practical tips and inspiration. Workshops and Presentations—Search Institute offers professional development opportunities on family strengths, family engagement, and youth development and education. Visit www.search-­‐institute.org/presentations-­‐workshops. Search Institute • 615 First Avenue NE, Suite 125, Minneapolis, MN 55413 • www.search-­‐institute.org • 612-­‐376-­‐8955 Search Institute’s American Family Assets Study: Overview Page 4