What is Building Youth?

Building Youth is a initiative for positive community change headed by the Bernards Township Health Department and Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse.  We use the Search Institute's 40 Developmental AssetsTM as our framework because these positive experiences and qualities are proven to help raise healthy and successful young people. 

We are proactive in nature and choose to focus on the positive things our youth are doing to better themselves and their communities.  Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse members work on a number of separate asset-building strategies, each targeting different residents and organizations. 

We believe that asset building has the ability to improve the quality of life for all community members and so our mission is to mobilize and empower Bernards Township residents and organizations to share the vision and language of the 40 Developmental Assets. 

Building Youth is made possible by the Drug Free Communities Program from the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.