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, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Teens, Adults, Families, Urban
Goal: The goal of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative is to improve healthy food access in underserved communities in Philadelphia.
Impact: From 2004 to 2012, over 600 corner stores committed to providing healthy food options for customers. One hundred corner stores received conversions (investments ranging between $1,000 and $5,000) to expand inventory of produce and other healthy products.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Children
Goal: The goal of this program is to improve health and increase physical activity in Hawaii.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Wellness & Lifestyle, Children, Families
Goal: The Healthy Lifestyles Initiative works to integrate efforts to increase the proportion of Kansas City children and their families practicing healthy behaviors at a healthy weight.
Impact: Collaboration among multiple agencies across public and private sectors resulted in reaching almost 1 million people in the Kansas City area. Healthy weight assessments and plans received at primary care clinics are helping to promote healthy eating and living among children and their families.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes
Goal: The goals of the Homeless Garden Project (HGP) are to offer a supportive, meaningful work environment that encourages self-esteem, responsibility, and self-sufficiency; to integrate homeless people and the community in the security and beauty of a productive garden; and to put into practice the principles of economic and ecological sustainability.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Transportation, Urban
Goal: The goal of METRO's HOV lane network is to reduce traffic congestion and promote ridesharing and the use of public transportation.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Educational Attainment
Goal: The goal of this program is to recognize and reward outstanding public service, academic excellence, and community service.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability, Urban
Goal: The mission of the Interfaith Coalition on Energy (ICE) is to inspire congregations to reduce the costs of operating their facilities in order to create money for community service while practicing environmental stewardship.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Transportation
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide affordable public transportation in central Virginia.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Adults, Urban
Goal: The mission of The Key Clubhouse is to afford people who have been disrupted by mental illness the opportunity to recover meaningful and productive lives through reintegration in the workplace and the community.
Impact: Individuals who participate in a Clubhouse program have been found to have higher rates of employment, reduced hospitalization, reduced incarceration, and improved well-being as compared with other mental health programs.
The Key Clubhouse of South Florida and Supportive Housing at Northside Commons (Miami-Dade County, FL)
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Adults, Urban
Goal: The mission of The Key Clubhouse is to afford people who have been disrupted by mental illness the opportunity to recover meaningful and productive lives through reintegration in the workplace and the community.