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 Good Idea, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Teens
Goal: The goal of CMCA is to change policies and practices of major community institutions to reduce underage access to alcohol.
Impact: CMCA intervention significantly and favorably affected drinking behavior of 18- to 20-year olds and also significantly and favorably affected the practices of establishments serving alcohol. Alcohol merchants increased age-identification checking and reduced their sales to minors. Older teenagers (18 to 20 years old) reduced their provision of alcohol to other teens and were less likely to try to buy alcohol or drink in a bar. Arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol declined significantly among 18- to 20-year-olds.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Teens, Adults, Families
Goal: FAAN aims to increase public awareness, promote advocacy and education, and advance research for those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / School Environment, Urban
Goal: The program’s goal is to make New York City public schools safe and supportive for all students and to have staff members who could support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students.
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 Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Goal: The goal of the VAIP is to reduce perfluorocarbon emissions from aluminum production in the United States.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children
Goal: The goal of the Al's Pals program is to teach children how to practice positive ways to express feelings, relate to others, communicate, brainstorm ideas, solve problems, and differentiate between safe and unsafe substances and situations.
Impact: Studies have shown that the program resulted in higher degrees of positive change in the intervention groups, increases in prosocial behaviors and positive coping behaviors, and decreases in antisocial and negative coping behaviors.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Education / Literacy, Children
Goal: The goal of Itchy's Alphabet is to help children improve their literacy levels.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Transportation, Children, Women, Men, Families, Urban
Goal: The goal of the trail is to provide a safe route for residents to travel to work, school, businesses and recreational areas.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Adults
Goal: The goal of Project ALIVE is to encourage healthy eating and physical activity.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Education / School Environment, Children
Goal: The goal of this program is to promote social and emotional learning (SEL) and character development, to prevent bullying, and to build the problem-solving abilities and other life skills required for positive relationships throughout students' lives.
Impact: One study found that PATH students performed significantly better than their counterparts on the sociometric tests for aggression and hyperactivity-disruptive behavior according to peer sociometric reports. The PATH classrooms also received better observer ratings for their overall classroom atmosphere.