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 Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Children, Urban
Goal: The goal of Leading, Integrating, Networking for Kids is to provide mental health services for children in schools.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Goal: The goals of this program are to prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to nicotine, to help those addicted to quit, and to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke for all residents.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Older Adults
Goal: This program aims to protect seniors against West Nile virus exposure.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Families
Goal: The objectives of the campaign are (1) to educate parents about the importance of talking with their children and (2) to model techniques parents can use to have rich and elaborate conversations with their children.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Families
Goal: Let’s Move! is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation so that kids born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.
Filed under Good Idea, Art & Recreation / Libraries & Museums, Families
Goal: This program aims to educate library staff and train workers how to best serve library patrons with autism and their families.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / School Environment, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of Little Kids Rock is to offer music education free of charge to students in grades K-12.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Teens, Adults
Goal: The mission of LiveWell Colorado is to advance lifestyle, environmental, and policy changes that promote health through the reduction and prevention of obesity.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Heart Disease & Stroke, Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goal of the program is to identify and follow underserved adult residents with undiagnosed or untreated high blood pressure, cholesterol or glucose, provide education to encourage healthy lifestyle changes and encourage them to seek treatment – anyone without a primary care physician is referred to a participating FQHC.
Impact: Among those participants who were followed over time and were able to be reached by phone, there were significant increases in healthy food consumption as well as significant decreases in smoking, fat consumption, and fast food frequency.
Long-term Cost Effectiveness of Placing Homeless Seniors in Permanent Supportive Housing (San Francisco, CA)
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Women, Men, Older Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: To describe a new model of enriched supportive housing that not only improves the quality of life of seniors but also can provide a return on investment that reduces health care expenditures.
Impact: Housing chronically homeless adults reduces homelessness, improves health outcomes, and reduces health care costs. The greatest reduction in health care costs after placement in supportive housing is seen among chronically homeless adults and seniors.