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, 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 Effective Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Teens, Adults
Goal: The goal of the Tobacco Use Prevention program is to control tobacco use, reduce secondhand smoke exposure, and encourage smoking cessation.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: Spark's mission is to provide life-changing apprenticeships to youth in underserved communities across the United States.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide affordable and easily accessible physician prescribed special formula to babies with special dietary needs due to health problems.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Children, Teens, Families, Urban
Goal: The free sports medicine physicals provided by Jackson Hospital & Clinic helps thousands of parents, 25 schools, and hundreds of coaches ensure that students are healthy enough to participate in athletic programs when school starts in the fall.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Transportation, Children, Urban
Goal: The goal of the Springfield Safe Communities project was to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic crash fatalities, and to increase seat belt use throughout the city and surrounding areas.
St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Community-Building/Vocational Services Initiative (Syracuse, NY)
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Social Environment, Adults, Urban
Goal: The goal of St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center's Community-Building/Vocational Services Initiative is to revitalize the neighborhood by increasing community development and job placement.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of this program is for youths to postpone alcohol use until adulthood.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Adolescent Health, Teens, Urban
Goal: To create and evaluate new ways to prevent teen dating violence and abuse.