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.
The Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan (Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester, SC)
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Transportation
Goal: The Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan is based on three principles:
(1) Children should be able to safely walk and bike to school if they and their parents so choose.
(2) Roadways should equally accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
(3) Bicycling and walking should become a routine part of daily activity in the BCD region.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The Black Infant Health Program aims to reduce African-American infant mortality through the Social Support and Empowerment model - a faith-based program which seeks to:
- Educate
- Ensure access to care for at-risk pregnant and parenting women and their infants.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Teens, Adults, Women, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: Bright Beginnings seeks to prevent poor pregnancy outcomes among Prince George's low-income, medically underserved women and children.
Impact: Bright Beginnings has provided services to thousands of women to help reduce infant mortality and prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. The program has been noted as a promising practice by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene since 2010.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Heart Disease & Stroke, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The INC Well's goal is to improve upon the built and social environment to establish a health and wellness supportive presence for those who are taking a proactive role in their quality of life.
Impact: The INC Well created a dedicated space where people can utilize health resources and take their wellness into their own hands.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of the program is to match high school students to elementary school students in a mentoring relationship.
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 Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Children, Families, Urban
Goal: To strengthen families of young children and the systems of care that surround them so that all children will be successful early learners and have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their cultural, socioeconomic, physical, psychological, emotional health, or environmental challenges.
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 Good Idea, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The mission of this organization is to improve or preserve the independence and dignity of the elderly and persons with disabilities and their families through the provision of services, education and access to empowering services and resources.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Public Safety, Children, Urban
Goal: The goal of the TARGET program is to reduce gang crime by selectively incarcerating the most violent and repeat (recidivist) gang offenders (based on their criminal records).