Developmental assets: profile of youth in a juvenile justice facility.
BACKGROUND
Possessing high numbers of developmental assets greatly reduces the likelihood of a young person engaging in health-risk behaviors. Since youth in the juvenile justice system seem to exhibit many high-risk behaviors, the purpose of this study was to assess the presence of external, internal, and social context areas of developmental assets in at-risk youth attending a northeast Missouri juvenile justice center.


METHODS
Male and female middle and high school students moved to a residential juvenile justice center voluntarily completed the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP) instrument during a regularly scheduled "intake" session.


RESULTS
Most respondents reported lacking risk-protective factors in the internal and social context areas. Respondents noted their lack of community involvement in the social context area and their overinvolvement with negative influences in the internal context area. Specifically in the internal and external context areas, most respondents reported having trouble with substance abuse and not having positive peer or parental support. In the social context area, many noted that they wanted to do well in activities and were encouraged to do well; however, they scored service to others and involvement in religious groups or activities as low.


CONCLUSIONS
Students who lack protective qualities, especially those who do not feel committed to their community, are more likely to be involved in substance abuse and risky behaviors. School-community partnerships may provide the targeted health protective factors that encourage more community involvement and more positive health behaviors in these youth.
329 Pershing Building, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA. wc757@truman.edu
Weslee
W
Chew
Jenna
J
Osseck
Desiree
D
Raygor
Jennifer
J
Eldridge-Houser
Carol
C
Cox
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri; D010379:Peer Group; D010553:Personality Development; D011594:Psychometrics; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires