Promising Practices
The Promising Practices database informs professionals and community members about documented approaches to improving community health and quality of life.
The ultimate goal is to support the systematic adoption, implementation, and evaluation of successful programs, practices, and policy changes. The database provides carefully reviewed, documented, and ranked practices that range from good ideas to evidence-based practices.
Learn more about the ranking methodology.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Women
Goal: The Illinois WISEWOMAN program (IWP) aims to lower heart disease and other chronic disease risk factors through screening and lifestyle classes for women in high-risk populations in service counties throughout Illinois.
Impact: The Illinois WISEWOMAN Program addresses the disproportionate risk of cardiovascular disease among disadvantaged, low-income women. Participation in the program has been shown to improve dietary, physical activity and cardiovascular outcomes.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Public Safety, Urban
Goal: The goal of this strategy is to improve the effectiveness of policing in Chicago.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Employment, Families, Urban
Goal: The mission of Chicago Commons is to help individuals, families and communities to overcome poverty, discrimination and isolation.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Families, Urban
Goal: CLOCC's mission is to confront the childhood obesity epidemic by promoting healthy and active lifestyles for children throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
Impact: The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children brings together researchers, public health advocates and practitioners, and the children, families, and communities of Chicagoland to prevent childhood obesity.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Oral Health, Children
Goal: The goal of the Illinois Dental Sealant Grant Program is to provide grant funds and technical assistance to public health service providers to develop and implement school-based dental sealant programs.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Employment, Adults
Goal: Opportunity Chicago's goal was to identify employment barriers within the system and to reduce those barriers by creating processes that would result in a smoother and more streamlined path to employment for CHA residents.
Impact: Of the 6,743 participants in an Opportunity Chicago program between 2006 and 2010, 5,185 (77%) were employed by the end of the project. Fifty-four percent retained employment for two or more years. Fifty-nine percent of participants saw an increase in quarterly earnings.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children, Urban
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide comprehensive educational support and family support to economically disadvantaged children and their parents.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes
Goal: CCLF's vision is to work creatively with their clients to help them rejuvenate neighborhoods and improve the lives of low-wealth individuals and families who live in those communities.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults, Urban
Goal: The overall program goal is the maintenance of a physically active lifestyle, in order to optimize one's functional capacity and ability to perform daily activities. In order to achieve this goal, the following impact objectives were established:
- Enhance enjoyment and participation in a variety of physical activities
- Develop and enhance the skills, knowledge, and self-efficacy needed to
establish and maintain an active lifestyle
- Ensure the affordability and accessibility of the program
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Economic Climate, Adults
Goal: The program’s goal is to support disadvantaged workers and struggling businesses through the economic recovery process.