The mission of Valley Outreach is to promote the health and well-being of families in the Mt. Washington Valley and to impact the current school drop out rate through collaborative programming. We believe in the asset-based approach, utilizing the framework of the 40 developmental assets developed through research by the Search Institute. 

In January, 2006 local school and agency personnel sponsored a survey of the 5th and 9th graders in SAU #9 and #13 to help us better understand youth needs and develop positive strategies to meet those needs. The survey questions were based on the 40 Developmental Asset Framework developed by the Search Institute, which is a nationally recognized independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities. The Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. Our goal is to engage all of our community members to support these assets. 

What did our 5th graders say?
External Assets: external relationships and activities that create a positive environment for young people.
89 % felt they received good support from the adults in their lives.
81% felt safe and empowered in their school and community.
76% felt that rules in school and community are fair and enforced.
66% said they were actively involved in constructive activities after school and in the community.
Internal Assets: internal values, skills, and beliefs thaty young people also need to fully engage in the world around them.
86% expressed a strong commitment to learning
90%  expressed strong, positive values
82% felt they had strong interpersonal skills and social competencies.
85% expressed a strong positive identity.

The scores also indicated their felt levels of assets in certain context areas. Below are the percentages of students who felt they had strong supports and assets in these areas.
Personal: 83%
Social: 87%
Family: 94%
School: 87%
Community: 64%

What did our 9th graders say?
As children become adolescents it is normal that they view the world more critically than in elementary years; therefore we would expect the scores to be lower in this age range. This is true in all national data as well.

External Assets
66 % felt they received good support from the adults in their lives.
69% felt safe and empowered in their school and community.
65% felt that rules in school and community are fair and enforced.
54% said they were actively involved in constructive activities after school and in the community.

Internal Assets
62% expressed a strong commitment to learning.
66% expressed strong positive values
68% felt they had strong interpersonal skills and social competencies.
63% expressed a strong positive identity.

The scores also indicated their felt levels of assets in certain context areas. Below are the percentages of students who felt they had strong supports and assets in these areas.
Personal: 65%
Social: 69%
Family: 74%
School: 57%
Community: 60%

What are some ways to get involved?

• Do something to make a positive difference in the life of a child.
• Empower and engage people you know to help build assets in our community.
• Show respect for all people in all of your activities.
• Work towards one of the above goals.
• Sponsor one of our activities.
• Help to market this initiative.

Email us for further ways to help.