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 / Transportation
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide affordable public transportation in central Virginia.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The primary caregivers of terminally ill patients often have regular jobs, require additional assistance, or just need some respite from their demanding schedule. Senior Companions provide much-needed assistance that allows patients to remain at home while giving primary caregivers a break.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: THINK together's mission is to provide high quality academically-oriented out-of-school programs for students regardless of race, creed, or socioeconomic status.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Goal: The goal of the program is to reduce the tobacco buy rate to minors. To accomplish this, the program aims to produce a "zero sale" result in each of the retail establishments every time a compliance check is conducted.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Prevention & Safety, Children, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: To promote water safety in the Latino community.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Adults, Families
Goal: To help Texans establish the habit of regular physical activity as a way to reduce excess body weight.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Education / Literacy, Children, Adults, Families
Goal: The mission of Reach Out and Read is to help prepare young children to succeed in school, by partnering with physicians to encouraging parents and children to read aloud together.
Impact: Reach Out and Read improves children's language development by 3-6 months and improves language ability with increased exposure to the program.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability
Goal: The CHP Partnership is a voluntary program that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by promoting the use of CHP.The Partnership works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments, and other stakeholders to support the development of new projects and promote their energy, environmental, and economic benefits.
Comparative Cost Analysis of Housing and Case Management Program for Chronically Ill Homeless Adults Compared to Usual Care (Chicago, Illinois)
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Adults, Urban
Goal: To assess the costs of a housing and case management program in a novel sample: homeless adults with chronic medical illnesses.
Impact: Compared to usual care, the intervention group generated an average annual cost savings of (−)$6,307 per person (95 percent CI: −16,616, 4,002; p = .23). Subgroup analyses of chronically homeless and those with HIV showed higher per person, annual cost savings of (−)$9,809 and (−)$6,622.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children, Urban
Goal: The goals of the Eat Well and Keep Moving program are to improve eating habits, increase physical activity, and reduce television viewing among upper elementary school students.