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.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Diabetes, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: To improve three health behaviors that are risk factors for diabetes and heart disease (fruit & vegetable consumption, physical activity, and cigarette smoking) in an African American community.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Urban
Goal: The program was designed to direct-mail a free, six-week course of nicotine treatment to eligible callers, thereby increasing access and reducing cost to people who wanted to stop smoking and improve their health.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Children
Goal: The goal of the Healthy Kids Clinics is to provide access to free health care to children in high-poverty schools in Fayette County.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Rural
Goal: Homeward Bound of Marin's mission is to address and solve the homelessness problem in Marin County.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Housing & Homes, Children, Older Adults, Families
Goal: The Kahiau Program addresses the non-medical needs of individuals and families in the community served by Castle Medical Center.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of KYB is to teach students the necessary knowledge, attitudes, skills, and experience to practice positive health behaviors and reduce their risk of future illness.
Impact: Studies suggest that the program had a favorable impact on many risk factors, such as systolic and diastolic pressures, HDL cholesterol, ratio of total to HDL cholesterol, fitness (postexercise pulse recovery rate), and smoking.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Art & Recreation / Sports Recreation & Parks, Children, Rural
Goal: The goal of the "Summer Sizzlers" program is to offer productive activities for youth to participate in during the summer vacation.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Families
Goal: The goals of RealBenefits are to allow users to 1) maximize benefits designed to promote self-sufficiency and stability for low-income families and their communities; 2) create capacity in public and private health and human service agencies that increases services offered to low-income families and maximizes revenues; and 3) promote change in public benefit application systems.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Transportation, Families
Goal: Indiana has a primary seat belt law which enables law enforcement officers to issue citations when they are observed. However, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that officers may not indiscriminately stop motorists to see if they are wearing their seat belts. To increase safety belt usage compliance, members of the Traffic Safety Partnership developed Seat Belt Enforcement Zones. The primary objectives of these enforcement zones are to: combine public awareness initiatives and enforcement efforts; utilize multi-agency personnel from participating law enforcement agencies; operate on a zero tolerance policy for violations; inform residents about current seat belt usage rates using metal signs posted at various county locations.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Teens, Adults, Women, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goals of the SevenPrinciples Project, funded by the CDC's REACH 2010 Initiative, are to: eliminate disparities in infant mortality rates; improve African American infant survival; and improve the health of families and communities with infants through developing community capacity.