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 / Alcohol & Drug Use, Women
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce the rate of pregnant women who smoke in Chautauqua County.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Investment & Personal Finance, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goal of Bank on Oakland is to help low-income families gain access to mainstream financial services.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Investment & Personal Finance, Children
Goal: The mission of the Banking on Our Future (BOOF) program is to execute a global delivery system for financial education for youth ages 9-18 at no cost to school districts, with a focus on urban, under-served communities.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The goal of the Bard Prison Initiative is to prevent reincarceration by providing higher-education to prison populations.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Diabetes, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goal of the program is to reduce chronic disease health disparities by making the healthy choice the easy choice.
Impact: The Bayview HEAL Zone has brought together a variety of organizations and supported healthy eating and active living projects in the community.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Cancer, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The mission of the Be a Blue Buddy campaign is to educate the community about colorectal cancer, to raise awareness about the importance of screening and early detection, to give hope to newly diagnosed patients, and to save lives.
Impact: Be a Blue Buddy has helped raise awareness and create a dialogue for colorectal cancer. Grace De La Rosa began Be a Blue Buddy in 2014 and has reached several thousand people in her community and nationwide.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Community & Business Resources, Adults
Goal: The goal of the Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown program is to raise awareness and sales of locally grown farm products.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Teens, Urban
Goal: The curricula aim to increase participants' knowledge about the risks of various behaviors and educate participants on how condoms and/or abstinence can effectively be used to lower those risks.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability, Families
Goal: Currently, the average U.S. family spends nearly $1,300 a year on energy bills, with much of that energy being wasted due to air leaks, inefficient appliances, and a general lack of attention to this important issue. The Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are dedicated to educating the community association industry--and the significant portion of the U.S. population it represents--on the many ways to increase the energy efficiency of their homes, and thereby reduce both energy consumption and costs.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children
Goal: Big Brothers Big Sisters' mission is to provide supportive relationships for young people to assist them in realizing their potential.