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 / Alcohol & Drug Use, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: The objective of this program is to increase life skills such as risk assessment, decision-making and drug resistance, while enhancing anti-drug norms and attitudes.
Impact: Evaluation findings suggest that Keepin' it R.E.A.L. succeeded in decreasing substance use, in reducing negative attitudes/behaviors, and in improving positive attitudes/behaviors.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Social Environment, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: The goal of Kids' Place is to provide a safe after-school learning enironmental for chidren that is available and affordable to local families.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Cancer, Women
Goal: The goal of this program is to make cancer screening more accessible for women with special needs.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Adolescent Health, Children, Adults
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce public and worker exposure to secondhand smoke and to prevent youth initiation of tobacco.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Air
Goal: The goal of the Landfill Methane Outreach Program is to promote the use of landfill gas as an energy source.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of the Lions Quest program is to promote healthy, safe, and drug-free behaviors in youth.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Men
Goal: The goal of Man Therapy is to change social norms regarding men's mental health and to encourage men to seek care.
Impact: Almost 60,000 "18-Point Head Inspections" or self-assessments were completed, and 19,586 people accessed the crisis information. Of the 7,933 visitors to the site surveyed, 51% agreed or strongly agreed they were more likely to seek help after visiting the site.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Teens
Goal: Two of the goals for the Maryland's Tomorrow program are for all seniors to pass Maryland's state tests and graduate, and for all participating students to improve their grade point averages.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Women, Urban
Goal: The mission of MOMS Orange County is to help mothers and their families have healthy babies by providing health coordination, education, and access to community services. MOMS Orange County’s vision is that all babies born in Orange County are healthy at birth.
Impact: Measures such as the percent of babies born at a low birth weight, percent of babies born premature, and the percent of babies admitted to the NICU were all markedly better for program participants when compared to many comparison benchmarks.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Cancer, Women, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The goal of this program is to encourage screening and early detection of cancer among American Indian women.