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 / Health Care Access & Quality, Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
The goal of the Hospital Diversion Initiative is to connect individuals who chronically utilize the inpatient and emergency rooms with outpatient care.
After three months in the program, participants showed a 66% reduction in ER visits, 68% reduction in inpatient hospital stays, a 72% decrease in homelessness, an 18% reduction in unemployment, and a 66% decrease in past 30 day arrests. More than 350 individuals have been served so far.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Children
The goal of this program was to reduce health and developmental problems for low-birth-weight and premature infants.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Educational Attainment, Children
The purpose of the Interlocal Association's (IA) Youth with Disabilities Project was to support demonstration projects to help Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-assisted youth programs develop the capacity to serve youth with disabilities. Although youth with disabilities had been served under previous employment and training programs during the latter years of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), with the implementation of WIA, services such as work experience, summer employment, and others decreased substantially. IA looked to expand and enhance the quality of services to youth with disabilities.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Social Environment, Families
The program aims to provide information and resources to kinship caregivers (grandparents, relatives, foster parents, and others) in New York State.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Governance, Urban
The goal is to help prepare communities for earthquakes, fires, floods, terrorism, and other natural and man-made disasters.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Income, Women, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
The mission of La Cocina is to cultivate low-income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses by providing affordable commercial kitchen space, industry-specific technical assistance, and access to market opportunities.
La Cocina supports dozens of successful food businesses run by low-income women and people from immigrant communities.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
To create a health insurance access program that reduces barriers to obtaining insurance to care for Latinos in Boston.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Transportation
GO Boulder's mission is to develop a sustainable and balanced transportation system supporting the quality of life valued by Boulder's residents, employees, and visitors.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Children, Urban
The goal of the program was to reduce barriers to dental care and increase the use of dental care among underserved children living in remote locations in Alaska.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Economic Climate
Memphis Fast Forward is the shared vision and unprecedented action plan to create good jobs, a better-educated workforce, a safer community, a healthier citizenry and efficient government in Memphis and Shelby County.
Major violent and property crime were reduced by 22.8% and 25.5%. The pool of high-potential teacher candidates increased from 21 to 1,800 in one year. More than 15,000 jobs were created. New capital investment of $4.2 billion was generated. Local governments saved more than $75 million.