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 Evidence-Based Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes
Evidence shows Housing First programs decrease homelessness, increase housing stability, and improve quality of life for homeless persons living with disabling conditions, including those with HIV infection. For clients living with HIV infection, these programs also improve clinical indicators and mental health and reduce mortality. Housing First programs also lead to reduced hospitalization and use of emergency departments for homeless persons with disabling conditions, including HIV infection.
The CPSTF finds the economic benefits exceed the intervention cost for Housing First Programs in the United States. Because homelessness is associated with lower income and is more common among racial and ethnic minority populations, Housing First Programs are likely to advance health equity.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Oral Health, Children, Women
The purpose of the "Something to Smile About" dental program is to improve dental outcomes for children in Garrett County, Maryland.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Teens
The goal of this intervention was to enhance protective factors associated with reducing suicide among high school students.
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.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Urban
The goals of the Staying Alive program are to teach drug users about how to recognize opiate overdose signs and symptoms, how to respond to any overdose cases by calling 911, and how to use rescue breathing and naloxone administration to reduce life-threatening drug overdose.
Staying Alive reduces mortality due to opiate and heroin drug overdose.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
The goal of this program is to embed a sustainable evidence-based fall prevention program within greater Hartford senior centers by enhancing fall prevention-related knowledge and behavior, while also building or enhancing relationships between senior centers and relevant community and health care organizations.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Transportation, Adults
The goal of the Broome County STOP-DWI comprehensive DWI countermeasure program is to improve highway safety by preventing drunk driving through increased certainty of arrest and conviction.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Older Adults, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults
SHHC targets individual, social, and built environment levels of behavior change and is designed to improve diet and physical activity behaviors, assess and improve local food and physical environment resources, and shift social norms about active living and healthy eating through civic engagement and capacity building.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Older Adults
The goal of Strong-For-Life home-based exercise program is to promote activity and reduce disability among older adults.
Home-based resistance exercise programs designed for older persons with disabilities hold promise as an effective public health strategy.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Older Adults, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults
StrongPeople Strong Bodies is a community-based strength training program aimed at mid-life and older individuals. The benefits of strength training for older individuals have been studied extensively and include increased muscle mass and strength; improved bone density and reduced risk for osteoporosis and related fractures; reduced risk for diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, depression, and obesity; and improved self-confidence, sleep, and vitality.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children
The goal of this program is to help all students achieve academic success at the highest levels.
Results suggest that students in the Success for All schools were achieving at significantly higher levels on three of the four reading outcomes as measured by the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test Revised (WRMT-R).