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, Community / Civic Engagement, Children
Goal: The goal of Kids Voting USA is to foster civic awareness at an early age to deal with the problems of voter apathy and nonparticipation.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Adolescent Health, Teens, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The mission of SEXINFO is to provide sexual health information to those at high risk for acquiring STIs in San Francisco, CA.
SF Health Code Article 38: Enhanced Ventilation for Urban Sensitive Use Development (San Francisco, CA)
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Governance, Children, Teens, Adults, Older Adults, Families, Urban
Goal: The purpose of SF Health Code Article 38 is to protect residents from the effects of living in a poor air quality zone by requiring enhanced ventilation in new and renovated residential buildings.
Impact: The City of San Francisco implemented a law requiring enhanced ventilation in new and renovated residential buildings to protect residents from harmful particulate matter.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: Shape Up SF aims to reduce health disparities by creating healthy eating and active living environments and improving physical activity and nutrition.
Impact: Shape Up SF implemented Safe Routes to School, Bayview HEAL Zone, PE4SF, Rethink Your Drink, Southeast Food Access (SEFA) Working Group, SEFA Food Guardians, and Walking Challenge, and increased physical activity and access to healthy foods in San Francisco.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Transportation, Children, Teens, Adults, Families
Goal: The goal of the program was to provide an outdoor recreational and bicycle commuting trail along an abandoned railway line in Georgia.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Air
Goal: The goal of this partnership is to improve the environmental performance and fuel efficiency of the US freight sector (truck & rail) through the use of a voluntary market incentive system and to encourage retailers/end users to choose trucking and/or rail companies that are environmental leaders in their respective industry segments.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Oral Health, Children
Goal: S4L strives to create self-confidence and change the lives of underprivileged children by providing orthodontic services at no cost.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / School Environment, Teens
Goal: The goal of this program is to teach young adolescents self-control, stress management, social problem solving, and communication skills, and to encourage them to use those skills for the prevention of substance use and high-risk sexual behavior.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Social Environment, Children
Goal: The goal of this program is to help students acquire social and decision-making skills and to develop their ability to effectively use those skills in real-life and academic situations.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Teens
Goal: The goal of this intervention was to enhance protective factors associated with reducing suicide among high school students.
Impact: The Sources of Strength program was successful in increasing students likelihood of seeking help from an adult at school, as well as those adults ability to help suicidal students.