Measurement
Big City Mountaineers takes the impact of its programs seriously. For 6 years, BCM has employed the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets Profile to measure the effectiveness of BCM expeditions.
The Search Institute has identified building blocks of healthy development—known as Developmental Assets—that help young adults grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Internal Assets are young person’s own commitments, values and competencies while external assets reference support systems and how young adults view responsibility. Each teen’s asset profile is a strong predictor of future success (i.e. reduction in violence, drug use, likeliness to stay in school).
BCM’s 40 DA surveys results over the years have consistently shown that we have a positive impact on both Internal and External Assets, with significant changes occurring in Internal Assets pre- to post-test.
Over the last three years, Big City Mountaineers teens have consistently shown improvement in the “Social Competency” category.
Social Competency includes:
- Planning and Decision Making Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
- Interpersonal Competence Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
- Cultural Competence Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
- Resistance Skills Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
- Peaceful Conflict Resolution Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
This means BCM programs influence not only how young adults make choices, but how a young person builds future relationships.
In addition to the core competency above, BCM also has impacted Positive Values – Integrity, honesty, responsibility, and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and drugs and Positive Identity – Self-esteem, purpose and positive view. To view our entire findings per year, please see below.
2009 Developmental Assets Profile (in preparation)
2008 Developmental Assets Profile
2007 Developmental Assets Profile
2006 Developmental Assets Profile
