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, Health / Children's Health, Children, Urban
Goal: The primary goal of the ‘Switch-Play’ promising practice was to develop and test three approaches towards the achievement of healthy weight maintenance among 10-year-old children: (1) through reducing the time spent in sedentary behaviors (e.g. TV viewing, playing electronic games and recreational computer use); (2) through increasing skills and enjoyment of physical activity; or (3) through a combination of these two strategies.
Impact: Children participating in the behavioral modification and motor skills development components of Switch-Play had improved BMI.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Teens, Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce syphilis prevalence in the United States and eliminate the syphilis health disparity.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Diabetes, Older Adults, Urban
Goal: The goal of the “Tai Chi for Diabetes” program was to improve health-related outcomes for
individuals diagnosed with type II diabetes in areas of mobility and physical function.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The goal of the program is to provide seniors a form of movement that will enhance their confidence and balance in daily activities.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Transportation
Goal: The goal of Taking the HyRoad is to improve fuel economy and reduce the emissions from public transit buses through the use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Women's Health, Women
Goal: The goal of the Targeted Outreach for Pregnant Women Act is to improve prenatal care among high risk and HIV-positive pregnant women in order to reduce the number of babies born with HIV-infection and prenatal drug exposure.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Women
Goal: The goals of the Library plan are to promote early literacy, parent/child bonding, and breastfeeding education in the community.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Built Environment, Children, Adults
Goal: TD Green Streets strives to green cities and towns across Canada by supporting innovative practices in municipal forestry.
Impact: TD Green Streets supports innovative practices in community forestry and has awarded funding to more than 500 communities across Canada. In 2012, 25 projects were funded resulting in the planting of 16,344 trees & shrubs nationwide.
Teaching Alternative High School Students Computer Skills through Experiential Learning (Tonasket, WA)
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Student Performance K-12, Teens
Goal: The goal was to engage students in learning how to use and fix computers so they would be competitve in the job market following school.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Civic Engagement, Children, Teens
Goal: The intent of this program is to provide each student with at least 12 years of training in how to manage conflicts constructively and thereby significantly change the way they manage their conflicts for the rest of their lives.