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, Education / School Environment, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of the Edible Schoolyard program is to teach students about gardening, cooking, and healthy eating through the creation and maintenance of an organic garden.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Built Environment, Adults
Goal: The Edible Trees Program seeks to increase local access to fruiting trees and provide equitable access to healthy foods.
Impact: The Edible Trees Program provides communities access to fruit and nut trees. The program has funded 19 projects resulting in 1,320 trees & shrubs planted.
Educating and Delivering Financial Services to Low-Income, Underserved Residents and Businesses (Cuyahoga County, OH)
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Investment & Personal Finance, Families
Goal: The goal is to offer members of poor and underserved communities ownership in an established financial cooperative. By purchasing shares in the Faith Community United Credit Union (FCUCU), individuals gain access to services and learn the difference between using what belongs to someone else and owning their own institution.
Effect of a housing and case management program on emergency department visits and hospitalizations among chronically ill homeless adults: a randomized trial (Chicago, Illinois)
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: To assess the effectiveness of a case management and housing program in reducing the use of urgent medical services among homeless adults with chronic medical illnesses.
Impact: For every 100 homeless adults offered the intervention, the expected benefits over the next year would be 49 fewer hospitalizations, 270 fewer hospital days, and 116 fewer ED visits.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The goal of the Elder Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is to help low-income elders improve their nutrition through access to fresh produce that they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: Elev8 brings together schools, families and the community in low-income areas to ensure that students succeed in school and in life.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Adolescent Health, Teens, Urban
Goal: To provide an independent living situation with support services for at-risk youths aged 18 to 24.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Employment, Teens, Adults, Families, Urban
Goal: Invest in people through social enterprise.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Teens, Families
Goal: 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, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The goal of EnhanceWellness is to improve the health and functioning of older adults.