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Child Adolesc Soc Work J (2012) 29:499514
DOI 10.1007/s10560-012-0271-3
Michael P. Vimont
Published online: 24 July 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
Abstract Despite ecological systems theory central role for social work practice as well as being a foundational feature of Developmental Systems Theory (DST), DST has gone under utilized by the social work profession. Youth assets as an operational component provides to the social work practitioner an opportunity to engage in development and implementation of concepts related to DST in order to enhance the development of youths using a community based approach. Social workers must become familiar with historical and theoretical understanding of key concepts in this primary prevention approach to addressing the needs of youths, and current methods used in measuring assets.
Keywords Youth assets Youth development Developmental systems theory
Protective factors
Introduction
Youths engagement in at risk behaviors has been a frequent target for concern, study and intervention by community leaders, researchers and practitioners. Adolescence is a time of disengagement from ones family of origin, testing of established norms, and experimentation with new ideas and concepts. In addition, adolescence is also the time for astonishing changes in biological, psychological and social learning (Bainbridge 2009). Just at the time when youths are in their latter stages of growth prior to their entrance into adulthood, many choose to alter their
M. P. Vimont
Ashland University, Ashland, OH, USA
M. P. Vimont (&)3309 Butternut Dr., Norton, OH 44203, USA e-mail: [email protected]
Developmental Systems Theory and Youth Assets: A Primer for the Social Work Researcherand Practitioner
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500 M. P. Vimont
path by engaging in behavior that is often counterproductive to healthy development.
The Futurist in 1992 cited the news bureau of Indiana University which had observed the following: Drug educators and health professionals are paying more attention to protective factors that make youth less vulnerable to drug problems(p. 8). It noted the transition from targeting the reduction of risk factors to the development of protective factors that help youths resist involvement in at risk behavior.
During the same time period Dr. Peter Benson from the eld of developmental psychology introduced the term developmental assets to describe ingredients required for positive youth development (1990). A literature search on the term using the SocINDEX shows the earliest...