Our Partnerships Make a Difference in Young People’s Lives
We don’t just study developmental relationships; we transform them. Search Institute has spent decades learning about the experiences and conditions that help young people thrive in their schools and communities. We put our research and surveys to work by developing practical tools and resources for organizations, educators, leaders, and practitioners. We create meaningful partnerships with organizations that use our tools and strategies to deepen their connections with young people and help them live their best lives. Wherever Search Institute values and research are put into action, young people are experiencing powerful ways to learn and grow from the adults around them.
Read the stories below to learn how our research is positively impacting young people around the world.
Stories of our Impact
The Georgetown Project
A Focus on Relationships for a Changing Town
The fast-changing community of Georgetown, Texas, is home to several innovative youth-led after-school programs. The Georgetown Project uses Search Institute’s developmental assets framework and measures its progress with youth by administering the Youth and Program Strengths (YAP) survey and the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP). The result: youth-led change and an after-school program for homeless high schoolers.
Project Cornerstone
Finding Success Through Peer Relationships
Project Cornerstone is a program that equips young people to become catalysts for change in their schools and communities. Project Cornerstone staff members are using Search Institute tools and practices, like the Attitudes and Behaviors (A&B) survey to better understand the young people in their community and give them a voice.
Toberman Neighborhood Center
Previously Gang-Affiliated Staff Help Build Trust for Youth
San Pedro, California, has a high poverty rate and faces challenges with a high level of gang activity. The Toberman Neighborhood Center serves young people from the area. A longtime partner of Search Institute, the Center hosts gang prevention and intervention services with staff who were previously gang affiliated and know the community. The staff are deeply versed in Search Institute approaches, including the Developmental Assets Framework and the Keep Connected program.
Youth in Action
Opportunities for Youth Worldwide
Youth in Action is a project funded by Save the Children Canada in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. Project leaders aim to improve the lives of children in Egypt, Malawi, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Uganda. Youth in Action partnered with Search Institute to design the program, using data from the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP) survey to understand the challenges and strengths young people were facing in their communities.