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
Goal: The mission of Girls on the Run is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The program envisions a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.
Impact: Girls who participate in Girls on the Run have increased physical activity levels, higher physical activity commitment, and improved body image.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Family Planning, Teens
Goal: The goals of GO! are:
- to delay the initiation of sexual intercourse among males ages 12-14 to reduce teenage pregnancy in Frederick County
- to increase parent child communication
- to increase community awareness regarding adolescent sexuality
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Civic Engagement
Goal: The program's mission is to bring community members together to provide food for the hungry by promoting sustainable use of excess resources.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Other Conditions, Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The program is focused on reduction of pain and improvement of function for arthritis patients unable or unwilling to attend small group ASMPs, which have proven effective in changing health-related behaviors and improving health status measures.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Adults
Goal: The goal of Healthy Food Environments is to increase availability, visibility, and affordability of healthy foods and beverages for employees, volunteers, and visitors on hospital campuses.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Families, Urban
Goal: HIPPY programs empower parents as primary educators of their children in the home and foster parent involvement in school and community life to maximize the chances of successful early school experiences.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Children, Adults, Families, Urban
Goal: Isles' mission is to foster more self-reliant families in healthy, sustainable communities.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Teens, Urban
Goal: The primary goals of KNOW THE LAW! include: to improve young people's awareness of legal issues, including both their rights and responsibilities; to help them make positive decisions and resist negative peer pressure; to teach participants to use their bodies, voices, and imagination as actors; to help participants learn basic theatre vocabulary and stage directions; to improve participants' self-confidence, promote high self-esteem, and develop good work habits; and to encourage participants to look at themselves as positive role models for their peers, developing both leadership and collaboration skills.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Adults, Urban
Goal: The MoodGYM and Blue Pages websites aim to alleviate depression symptoms and increase understanding of depression using the Internet.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Children
Goal: The ultimate goal of MST is to empower families to build a healthier environment through the mobilization of existing child, family, and community resources.
Impact: Compared to youth receiving usual-treatment services, those receiving MST were arrested about half as often in the post-treatment period. Recidivism rates were significantly less for MST-treated youth. Youth who received MST also had an average of 73 fewer days of incarceration.