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, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Impact: The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends center-based early childhood education programs (ECE) to improve educational outcomes that are associated with long-term health as well as social- and health-related outcomes. Economic evidence indicates there is a positive return on investment in early childhood education. The benefits from students' future earnings gains alone exceed program costs.
If targeted to low-income or racial and ethnic minority communities, ECE programs are likely to reduce educational achievement gaps, improve the health of these student populations, and promote health equity.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The goal of Hip-Hop to Health Jr is to reduce gains in BMI in preschool minority children.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Children, Adults, Families, Urban
Goal: Isles' mission is to foster more self-reliant families in healthy, sustainable communities.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Built Environment, Urban
Goal: The goal of Just Food is to build a more just food system in which family farmers make a fair profit for their efforts, and all people have access to affordable, healthy food. Just Food envisions a strong regional food system -- incorporating a diversity of rural farms and a robust urban farming component -- that preserves ecosystems, reduces pollution, promotes social justice, provides education about the environment, and invigorates rural and urban economies.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Prevention & Safety, Teens, Urban
Goal: The purpose of the program is to keep youth out of crime and to provide them with opportunities for a more fulfilling life.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Public Safety, Teens, Families, Urban
Goal: The mission of New Directions for Youth is to provide comprehensive programs that help at-risk youth become productive, self-sufficient and healthy young adults, and create supportive family environments.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Civic Engagement, Older Adults, Families
Goal: The goal of the program is to create a sustainable, affordable, and healthy food system for a community through an urban farm and its various programs.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Air
Goal: EPA's partners have committed to reduce PFC emissions 10 percent below their 1995 baseline by 2010.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Families, Urban
Goal: To increase equitable access to healthy food and strengthen communities by empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of city-grown produce.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Children, Urban
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce short- and long-term antisocial behavior.