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, Health / Older Adults, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults
Goal: 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 / Adolescent Health, Teens
Goal: The program aims to develop healthy behaviors, life skills, and a sense of purpose in order to prevent problem behaviors.
Impact: Studies have shown that adolescents in the Teen Outreach Program are at 52% lower risk of school suspension, 60% lower risk of course failure, and 53% lower risk of teenage pregnancy.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Economy / Government Assistance, Adults, Families
Goal: GAIN is part of a large-scale, welfare-to-work initiative program operating in every county in California. In L.A. County, the initiative is under the supervision of the Department of Public Social Services. It helps local businesses and employers find and hire quality workers who seek meaningful employment. Prospective workers are participants in the state welfare programs known as California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS) or General Relief Opportunities for Work (GROW).
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Literacy, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: The mission of 826 National is to help children ages 6-18 develop their writing skills, and to help teachers get their students excited about writing. The mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
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 Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Adults, Families, Urban
Goal: Common Ground seeks to help homeless individuals and families develop stability and independence by providing housing and support services.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Housing & Homes, Adults, Urban
Goal: Corporation for Supportive Housing's mission is to help communities create permanent housing with services to prevent and end homelessness.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Children
Goal: The goal of this program was to reduce health and developmental problems for low-birth-weight and premature infants.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children
Goal: These programs aim to improve both academic and interpersonal skills in elementary school aged children.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: To promote physical activity and healthy eating in resource-poor neighborhoods.