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, Economy / Housing & Homes, Adults, Urban
Goal: The goal was to create a housing program as one way to respond to chronic homelessness and associated health concerns.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Literacy
Goal: The Houston READ Commission's mission is to enrich the lives of adult Houstonians and their families by helping them achieve their full potential through literacy, and to contribute to a workforce that will ensure a strong economy and a promising future for the greater Houston area.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Adults, Older Adults, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goal of How to Cope is to help adults impacted by a loved one's substance abuse create a balanced and healthy life, even if their loved one continues to abuse substances.
Impact: Over 100 adults impacted by a loved one's addiction to alcohol or drugs participated in How to Cope in 2013, with 87% showing increased knowledge of the harmful effects and other drugs and 100% completing an action plan.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Children, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goal of Immunize LA Kids is to improve immunization rates among children.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Urban
Goal: The goal of ISUS is to address an escalating dropout problem and to better prepare these youth for work in high-demand industries.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Disabilities, Children
Goal: The goal of the Imua Project is to support youth with disabilities transition from high school to employment or higher education.
Increased Medicaid Reimbursements to Enhance Breast/Cervical Cancer Screening Project (Leon County, FL)
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Women's Health, Women
Goal: The goal of this program is to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among medically underserved women.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: The goal of this program is to divert young first-time offenders from court into a restorative justice process in which the offender and victim negotiate a satisfactory solution.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Goal: In 2002, the health department changed the clinic site and operation to accomplish the following three goals: 1) to conduct a mass vaccination involving other community agencies, businesses and health providers; 2) to distribute influenza vaccination in the community for greater equity and accountability; and 3) to introduce the citizens to the concept and process of a mass vaccination drill.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Family Planning, Women
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide reproductive health care services to women and men in the Denver STD clinic.
Impact: Enrollment in family planning services increased significantly. Among women returning within 12 months, pregnancies were lower among enrolled versus non-enrolled women. Total additional cost was $29.95/visit, and 40.1 minutes of additional staff time.