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, Environmental Health / Built Environment, Adults
Goal: The mission of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.
Impact: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy encourages people of all ages and abilities to get outside and be active on a rail-trail. The organization serves 150,000 members and supporters on over 20,000 miles of rail-trail.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Wildlife
Goal: RAN's mission is to protect and sustain healthy forests by campaigning against corporate policies that come at the expense of the environment.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children, Families, Urban
Goal: Raising A Reader's mission is to foster healthy brain development, encourage parent and child bonding through reading together and facilitate future school success by increasing reading skills.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens, Families
Goal: The Raising Healthy Children program is a social development approach to positive youth development.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Literacy, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of READ 180 is to improve literacy among children and teenagers through curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Men
Goal: To reduce the frequency of unprotected vaginal and anal sexual intercourse among sexually active men in drug treatment.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Employment, Adults, Urban
Goal: The mission of Rebuild Resources is to help addicts and alcoholics be sober, self-sufficient and of service by providing meaningful, transitional employment in business enterprises we own and operate.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Housing & Homes
Goal: Rebuilding Together's mission is to bring volunteers and communities together for the improvement of the homes and lives of low-income homeowners.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children
Goal: The goal of this program is to improve students' ability to read, understand, and analyze text.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Teens
Goal: The Reconnecting Youth program has three main goals: 1) increase school performance; 2) decrease drug involvement; and 3) decrease suicide-risk behaviors.
Impact: Significant increases in positive connections with teachers, friends, and family members; significant improvements in GPA; lasting reductions in hard drug use; decreases in anger-control problems; reductions in depression and hopelessness; and increases in enhancing personal control were observed.