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 Effective Practice, Economy / Employment
Goal: The goal of this program is to increase employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities and to advocate on behalf of their employment to other organizations in their communities.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes
Goal: The goals of the Homeless Garden Project (HGP) are to offer a supportive, meaningful work environment that encourages self-esteem, responsibility, and self-sufficiency; to integrate homeless people and the community in the security and beauty of a productive garden; and to put into practice the principles of economic and ecological sustainability.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Teens
Goal: The goal of THP-Plus is to provide affordable housing and supportive services to youth formerly in the foster care and juvenile probation systems.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens
Goal: The Twelve Together program seeks to help students stay in school and make academic progress.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Government Assistance
Goal: The goal of this program is to help individuals move toward self-sufficiency.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Governance, Urban
Goal: The goal of the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act is to ensure that funding for new parks and green spaces is prioritized for critically underserved and disadvantaged urban communities.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Educational Attainment, Teens
Goal: College Track's goal is to transform low-income communities into places where college readiness and college graduation are the norms by providing direct service, community partnerships, and advocacy.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Teens, Adults, Women, Men
Goal: The goal of the promising practice is to reduce binge-drinking behavior in college students using motivational interviewing and personalized feedback techniques.
Impact: At an eight-week follow-up, all four groups reduced their consumption, peak BAC, consequences, and dependence symptoms.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Community / Social Environment, Children, Families
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce child behavior problems and delinquency and substance abuse among adolescents, to improve parenting knowledge and skills, and to strengthen the relationship between adolescent and parent.
Impact: Findings from studies show an association between Parenting Wisely participation and improvements in family problem solving, family roles, family involvement, parenting self-efficacy, parenting sense of competence, and decreased adolescent violent behavior.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults, Rural
Goal: The goal of this program is to improve communication between providers and patients about colorectal cancer screening.