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 / Children's Health, Children
The goal of the Children’s Power Play! Campaign is to improve youth physical activity and nutrition.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens, Families
Coalition for Community Schools’ mission is to mobilize the resources and capacity of multiple sectors and institutions to create a united movement for community schools.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Children
The goal of this program is to relieve symptoms of PTSD, depression, and general anxiety among children exposed to trauma.
Studies have found significant reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms for treatment children in CBITS when compared with a control group. Additionally, the program demonstrated effectiveness at reducing parent-reported psychosocial dysfunction among participating children.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Adults
The goal of this program is to reduce disability in middle-aged and older people with schizophrenia.
At the end of treatment, CBSST participants had significantly greater cognitive insight scores, indicating more objectivity in reappraising psychotic symptoms relative to treatment as usual. At 1-year follow-up, participants in CBSST showed greater skill acquisition and significant improvements in social functioning relative to participants receiving treatment as usual.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Children
The goal of this program is to provide students with skills that can be used for understanding and controlling their emotions.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children
The goal of Color Me Healthy is to promote and encourage physical activity and healthy eating among children ages four and five.
The program has had a positive impact on children's knowledge of and participation in physical activity. Similarly, it has had a positive impact on children's ability to recognize and their willingness to try fruits and vegetables. It has also increased children's fruit/vegetable snack consumption.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Families
The Healthy Neighborhoods program seeks to reduce housing related illness and injury through prevention and education.
In the past five years, the HNP visited 31,000 homes with 85,000 residents, and provided the asthma intervention to 11,000 adults and children with asthma. The assessments created a valuable data set about the health effects of housing hazards.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Women
The goal of Commit to Quit is to help female smokers quit smoking through group programming and exercise.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
The original goal of the Community Action Model has been to improve the health and environment of a community by reducing tobacco influences while building community capacity. It can be applied to a variety of health and welfare issues and has been used successfully in many communities with multiple topics of intervention.
The Community Action Model has resulted in new tobacco control policies within San Francisco, many of which serve as models for other communities.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens, Adults
The goal of the program is to make a positive difference in the lives of children, primarily through professionally guided one-to-one relationships with caring adults, and to assist them in achieving their highest potential, as they grow to become confident, competent and caring individuals.