EXYP assesses its immediate and long-term impact on children by implementing a child evaluation program called, “The 40 Asset Approach.” This program, developed by the Search Institute of Minnesota, identifies 40 Developmental Assets as the building blocks of healthy development in young people. The more positive assets a child has, the more likely that child is to grow up as a healthy, thriving person. (search-institute.org)

Research conducted by the Search Institute shows that youth who possess more assets are more likely to avoid high-risk behaviors such as violence (61%), problem alcohol use (53%), illicit drug use (42%) and sexual activity (33%).

Extensive ethnic survey data compiled by the Search Institute indicates youth centers, such as EXYP's model for youth programming, have the potential to be an effective motivator for Native American children.

Serious about the future

Analyzing data collected from more than 200,000 surveys of 6th – 12th grade youth, the Search Institute concluded “constructive-use-of-time” assets, like youth programs “seem more strongly correlated with school success for American Indian and Asian American youth than for others.”