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.
Safe STEPS (Safe and Successful Transition of Elderly Patients Study) Intervention Program (PA, MD, NC)
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The goal of the program is to ensure effective discharge of patients from the hospital back to their homes, and to reduce 30-day hospital readmission.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Oral Health, Children, Families, Rural
Goal: The goal of Saving Smiles is to improve the oral health and in turn overall health of children in Lafayette County, especially for the poor and underserved.
Impact: Most students from the 11 participating schools in Lafayette County received a screening, fluoride varnish, and oral health education, and most of the children referred for dental care were seen by a dentist.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Teens
Goal: The goal of this program is to teach conflict-resolution skills to middle-school students.
Impact: Studies showed a statistically significant increase in students' awareness of how their own behaviors contribute to the escalation of a conflict situation for students participating in SMARTteam when compared with the control group not receiving the intervention. Students in the intervention group were also less likely to value violence as an option in conflict situations than their peers in the control group.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Children
Goal: To increase healthy lifestyles in children ages 8-10 years old by increasing physical activity and vegetable and fruit consumption and decreasing time spent in front of the television in order to prevent childhood obesity.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Prevention & Safety, Urban
Goal: The goal of this program is to educate syringe users about access to clean syringes and proper medical waste disposal and to provide sharps containers and disposal sites to syringe users.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Poverty, Rural
Goal: The goal of the program is to help clients reach self-sufficiency through life-skills and nutritional education.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Older Adults
Goal: The goal of this program is to encourage weight bearing exercise among seniors and individuals at risk of or suffering with osteoporosis.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Teens, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: To make Nashville a healthier community by improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables in food desert neighborhoods while supporting local farmers and empowering and educating youth.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Goal: The goal of the VAIP is to reduce perfluorocarbon emissions from aluminum production in the United States.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Goal: The goals of Weed and Seed are to control violent crime, drug trafficking, and drug-related crime and provide a safe environment where residents can live, work, and raise their families.