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 / Women's Health, Women, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
The goal of the FoCaS Project is to improve breast and cervical cancer screening participation among low-income women.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Health Care Access & Quality
The goal of this program is to improve health care accessibility and availability for low income, uninsured and underinsured residents of Marion County.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Children, Families
Healthy Kids plans to enroll all uninsured children who are not eligible for Medi-Cal and who are residents of Sonoma County in the health care and insurance program.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Women
The goal of this program is to increase prenatal entry into WIC. The ultimate purpose is to lower the rate of low birth weight as well as the rate of infant mortality.
Addressing the Social Determinants of Health through the Alameda County, California, Place Matters Policy Initiative (Alameda County, CA)
Filed under Good Idea, Health, Urban
The goal of the Place Matters initiative is to improve the health of participating communities by “addressing social conditions that lead to poor health” through “identifying the complex root causes of health disparities and defining strategies to address them.”
AC Place Matters has identified 10 best practices that could help other programs address social determinants of health: find and foster strong leadership, dedicate staff resources to the work, engage staff from across the local health department, contribute to building grassroots power, address root causes, partner with community organizations and leaders, partner with government institutions across sectors, work reactively and proactively, build capacity, and use tools that ensure a focus on health equity.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Health Care Access & Quality
The goal of Project Access is to improve access to specialty health care in Buncombe County.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults
To increase screening for colorectal cancer
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults
To increase screening for breast cancer
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults, Women
To increase screening for cervical cancers
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Oral Health
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends community water fluoridation to reduce tooth decay (i.e., dental caries or cavities).