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 / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Women, Older Adults
Goal: HIV Wisdom for Older Women is dedicated to the prevention of HIV in older women and to life enrichment for those who are infected.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Families, Urban
Goal: HIPPY programs empower parents as primary educators of their children in the home and foster parent involvement in school and community life to maximize the chances of successful early school experiences.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults, Urban
Goal: The program’s mission is to serve San Francisco’s isolated seniors 60 and older in making the transition from hospital to home.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Urban
Goal: The mission of Beyond Shelter is to develop systemic approaches to combat poverty and homelessness among families with children and enhance family economic security and well-being.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children, Families, Urban
Goal: The program’s goal is to provide comprehensive child development and family support services to families with children 0–3 in order for parents to support and encourage their children’s early growth, development and school readiness.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Literacy, Children, Families
Goal: The program's overall goal is to support parents in their role as their child's first teacher by providing parents with literacy training and children with early development skill building, including language skills.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The program’s overall goal is to prepare children and their families for successful entrance into kindergarten through full-day, center-based early childhood education and family support services.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Social Environment, Families
Goal: The purpose of the Horizon Communities in Prison program is to build links between the faith community and correctional institutions in order to affect an inner transformation of inmates and prepare them to live with others in mutual support, trust and respect.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goal of the Hospital Diversion Initiative is to connect individuals who chronically utilize the inpatient and emergency rooms with outpatient care.
Impact: After three months in the program, participants showed a 66% reduction in ER visits, 68% reduction in inpatient hospital stays, a 72% decrease in homelessness, an 18% reduction in unemployment, and a 66% decrease in past 30 day arrests. More than 350 individuals have been served so far.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Adults, Families
Goal: The goal of the HOPWA program is to help families pay housing expenses so that they are not displaced due to costs and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.