Using Asset Based Community Development to Build Youth Programs

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Using Asset Based Community Developmentto Build
Youth Programs

• Beth B. Street, Extension Agent
• Chasity Rice, Program Assistant
• University of Tennessee
• Agricultural Extension Service
• Unicoi County

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Objectives

• To define community
• To define asset based community development
• To develop asset-based inventories
• To identify ways of cataloging information
• To explore community based curriculum

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Background Information

• Located in Northeast Tennessee
• Population 17,713 (2000 U.S. Census)
• Youth (lt18 years) 20.5
• 1 Hispanic population
• Median household income 29,863

Unicoi
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Youth Attaining Knowledge (YAK)

• NCP site Unicoi County
• Youth education center
• Computer lab
• Character building
• Peer groups
• Substance abuse prevention
• Abstinence education/teen pregnancy prevention

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Common Terms

• Community
• Neighborhood, town, city, county, regions, area,
  tribe, culture, ethnic or faith-based group of
  people as identified by its members

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Common Terms

• Assets
• The positive strengths, qualities, benefits,
  commodities and character

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Common Terms

• Skills
• The gift and individual has gained through
  experience, education and/or knowledge which is
  passed on to another individual(s)

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Needs vs. Assets
Source Lionel J. (Bo.) Beaulieu
Southern Rural Development Center
Mississippi State University
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Asset -based community development

• The process of identifying and mobilizing
  communities unique local resources for creating
  positive change

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Asset Inventory

• The first step in identifying assets in a
  community
• Collects data from individuals
• Know what you are looking for before collecting
  data

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Developing an Inventory

• There are 4 major parts of an asset inventory
• Skills information
• Community skills
• Experience and enterprising
• Personal information

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Developing an Inventory

• Remember to ask community members
• Skills that are learned at home or in the
  workplace
• Skills they would like to teach others
• Skills they do not have but would like to teach
  others

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Example Asset InventoryUnicoi County

• Part 1
• Skills you need or desire
• Divide skills into areas that are easy to
  identify
• Part 2
• List skills willing to teach to others
• Part 3
• Personal contact information
• Return information

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Locating Individuals
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Locating Individuals

• Create opportunities
• Survey various neighborhoods and geographic
  locations

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Assessing the Information

• Organize for future use
• Create a database
• Maintain data

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Challenges

• Completion of asset inventory
• Locating individuals
• Maintaining database

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Building Community

• A process for youth and adults to chart assets
  and create change
• Created by the Innovation Center for Community
  Youth Development and National 4-H Council
• http//www.theinnovationcenter.org

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Planning for the Future

• Youth Leadership Program
• Youth Adult Partnerships
• Community Resource Guides
• Community Service

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Questions