--- title: [Infographic] The Value of Social Capital for Young People | Search Institute description: Social capital is the resources that arrise from a web of relationships in young people's lives. This infographic tells us why that's important. image: https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/social-capital-2.png --- Theme + Migration = $1489 (Pay for the Theme Only). [Learn More.](https://www.lpd-themes.com/migration) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - [BLOG](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/) - [DONATE](https://searchinstitute.org/donate) - [CONTACT](https://searchinstitute.org/contact) - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) [RESOURCE HUB](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub) [Why Relationships Matter and How to Get Started](https://searchinstitute.org/relationships-matter-get-started) Understand the foundations of developmental relationships and the power you have to strengthen those relationships for all young people to learn and grow. [Resources Tailored to Your Role](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?query=&page=1&configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=true&configure%5BuserToken%5D=anonymous-2aec4746-2f17-46a7-871b-a10e30f1f2f7&configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&hierarchicalMenu%5Btaxonomy.lvl0%5D=Resource%20Audience) Tools to support everyone who works with young people — educators, youth program workers, schools and youth program leaders, and community members [Resources Related to the Setting Where Relationships Take Place](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?query=&page=1&configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=true&configure%5BuserToken%5D=anonymous-2aec4746-2f17-46a7-871b-a10e30f1f2f7&configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&hierarchicalMenu%5Btaxonomy.lvl0%5D=Setting) Young people thrive when they experience a broader web of relationships, build strong relationships in a class or program, at home, and across your organization. [Resources on Key Topics](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?query=&page=1&configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=true&configure%5BuserToken%5D=anonymous-2aec4746-2f17-46a7-871b-a10e30f1f2f7&configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&hierarchicalMenu%5Btaxonomy.lvl0%5D=Topics) Relationships are key across several disciplines including family systems, social and emotional development, social capital, and community development. [Resources in Your Favorite Format](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?resourceTypes=Activity,Book,Guide,Journal%20Article,Measure%20/%20Assessment%20/%20Evaluation,Relational%20Practice,Report%20/%20Brief,Tool%20/%20Playbook,Video) Explore tools, frameworks, activities, guides, measures, and other research-based resources to build strong relationships with all young people. [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - BLOG - SHOP - DONATE - CONTACT - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [RESOURCE HUB](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub) # Blog May 14, 2020 1 Minute Read By : [searchinstitute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) Topics Developmental Relationships Research Developmental Assets Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Youth Programs Provide Support Family Engagement Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) SI Spotlight Social Capital Share Power Solutions Youth Thriving Education / School Expand Possibilities Student Voice Challenge Growth Summer Scholars Thriving Youth Voice Express Care Sparks Data Insights Faith Field Partner Spotlight LGBTQ+ Workshops Relationship Ready Schools Conversation Starters Sports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) # The Value of Social Capital for Young People [![Share on twitter](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/x-twitter-color.png?width=24&name=x-twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fvalue-social-capital%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fvalue-social-capital%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fvalue-social-capital%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fvalue-social-capital%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) ![](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/social-capital-2.png) [Social Capital](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/social-capital) [Developmental Relationships](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/developmental-relationships) # The Value of Social Capital for Young People By [searchinstitute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) May 13 2020 1 Minute Read With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Equitable Futures initiative, Search Institute is working with several other partners in the larger project known as Social Capital Assessment and Learning for Equity (SCALE). We’re developing and refining useful measures of “social capital” for programs designed to enhance postsecondary and employment opportunities for youth and young adults of color and from low-income backgrounds. After conducting an extensive literature review, we defined “social capital” as **the resources that arise from a web of relationships which people can access and mobilize to help them improve their lives and achieve their goals, which inevitably shift over time.** [Developmental relationships](https://www.search-institute.org/developmental-relationships/developmental-relationships-framework/) are thus at the heart of this social capital that enables young people to have the information, mindsets, skills, and human connections they need to pursue and achieve their goals. > We defined “social capital” as the resources that arise from a web of relationships which people can access and mobilize to help them improve their lives and achieve their goals, which inevitably shift over time. Although this relationship-centered work on social capital applies to all youth, it is especially critical for creating equitable futures for historically marginalized youth, as our review shows that youth of color and from low-income communities often do not have the same access to educationally- and occupationally-relevant relationships and resources as more affluent youth do. Our first phase has been establishing a theoretically-informed framework for the measurement and improvement of social capital, resulting from the comprehensive and rigorous literature review with an emphasis on practical measurement of social capital in programs serving youth and young adults. Our resulting framework is summarized in this infographic: [![social capital](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Copy-of-Social-Capital-6-768x1024-2.png?width=768&height=1024&name=Copy-of-Social-Capital-6-768x1024-2.png)](https://www.search-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Copy-of-Social-Capital-4.pdf) *For further information, see Scales, P.C., Boat, A., & Pekel, K. (2020). [Defining and Measuring Social Capital for Young People: A Practical Review of the Literature on Resource-Full Relationships](https://www.search-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SOCAP-Lit-Review.pdf). Minneapolis: Search Institute. Report for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [A summary can be found here](https://www.search-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SOCAP-Summary.pdf).* [Social Capital, ](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/social-capital) [Developmental Relationships, ](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/developmental-relationships) #### searchinstitute Author ## Recommended For You 1 Min Read ### [How to Show Kids You Care](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/show-kids-care) [searchinstitute November 12 2013](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) 1 Min Read ### [Helping Young People Achieve Goals](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/helping-young-people-achieve-goals) [searchinstitute August 23 2016](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) 1 Min Read ### [Developing Trust in Your Mentoring Relationship](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/developing-trust-mentoring-relationship) [searchinstitute January 29 2014](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) ![search-footerlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/search-footerlogo.png "search-footerlogo") ## Search Institute 2550 University Avenue West Suite 200N St. Paul, MN 55114 800.888.7828 612.376.8955 i[nfo@searchinstitute.org](mailto:info@searchinstitute.org) - [Research](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [Solutions](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [Insights](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [Funders & Partners](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [About](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [Blog](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/) - [Donate](https://searchinstitute.org/donate) - [Contact](https://searchinstitute.org/contact) - [Subscribe to our Newsletter](https://searchinstitute.org/subscribe-to-our-enewsletter) - [Cancellations, Returns & Refunds](https://searchinstitute.org/cancellations-returns-refunds) - [Public Records](https://searchinstitute.org/nonprofit-status-public-records) - [Permissions Request Form](https://survey.search-institute.org/s3/Permissions-Request-Form) - [Keep Connected](http://keepconnected.searchinstitute.org/) ©2024 Search Institute | [Terms of Use](https://www.search-institute.org/terms-of-use/) Search Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation. All contributions are tax deductible ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "searchinstitute", "url" : "https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute" }, "dateModified" : "2024-10-18T17:09:07.476Z", "datePublished" : "2020-05-14T04:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "[Infographic] The Value of Social Capital for Young People | Search Institute", "image" : [ "https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/social-capital-2.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.searchinstitute.org/value-social-capital", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/SI_BrandingProject2024_Logo_RGB_FULL.svg" }, "name" : "Search Institute" } } ```