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 Local, Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Teens, Adults, Women
The goals of the program are to Increase use of female condoms and increase the frequency of protected sex.
FEMIT is successful in increasing female condom use and also in increasing protected sex among women. The FEMIT intervention has the potential to to be an effective supplement to other safe sex education programs currently available at family planning clinics.
Filed under Local, Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Families
The programs’ mission is to inform and inspire parents and all who care about children so that every child may be happy, healthy, and thrive.
Filed under Local, Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes
The goals of the Homeless Garden Project (HGP) are to offer a supportive, meaningful work environment that encourages self-esteem, responsibility, and self-sufficiency; to integrate homeless people and the community in the security and beauty of a productive garden; and to put into practice the principles of economic and ecological sustainability.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability, Urban
Specific goals included:
-Continue to support SCVWD's mission of water supply and management in spite of external power interruptions,
- Provide 24-hour battery backup for SCADA instrumentation and communications,
-Provide indefinite power backup via backup generators for critical source pumping, water treatment and emergency operations, and
- Reduce HVAC and lighting use to prudent levels.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults
The goal of this program is to improve colorectal cancer screening rates among older adults.
Participants in the intervention group had significantly higher colorectal cancer screening attendance, as well as having more positive attitudes about screening and placing a higher priority on screening.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
To use tai chi exercise to improve balance and decrease incidence of falls among older adults.
The program shows that ta chi can significantly improve health-related outcome measures in older adults and such a program can be practically and effectively implemented and maintained in community settings.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition aims to use the Toxics Release Inventory data to reduce pollution.
CDC Communities Putting Prevention to Work: Increase Access to Cessation Services (Santa Clara County, CA)
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
The goal is to increase cessation within communities with the highest tobacco use rates through culturally appropriate services provided through community-based organization partners.
The intervention has resulted in a 39% quit success rate.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Teens, Families
ERP’s main objective is to provide therapeutic services to youth in the juvenile justice system and their families while maintaining a commitment to public safety.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children, Families
The program's goal is to create free, high-quality preschool opportunities for children in California and help guide efforts to create a statewide preschool system.