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, 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.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce waste and encourage recycling at Tinker Air Force Base.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / School Environment, Children
Goal: The approach was developed with the goals of increasing student investment, responsibility, and learning and decreasing problem behaviors.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Civic Engagement, Teens, Urban
Goal: The group’s mission is to improve the leadership skills of Denver’s youth while supporting and improving the community.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children, Families, Urban
Goal: The goal of Safe Passages' Early Childhood Initiative is to reduce the impact of violence on young children and to encourage the development of positive social skills and healthy family environments in order to prevent future violence.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Teens
Goal: SAFE-T is committed to conducting research in the areas of child sexual abuse, sexualized behaviour in children and adolescents who have offended sexually. Our treatment is uniquely tailored to respond to the strengths and challenges of individuals and families with the overarching goal of healthy future relationships.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / School Environment, Children, Teens
Goal: This program's primary goals are to teach young people about emotions, including anger and aggression, and to help them recognize alternatives to violent behavior and aggressive responses.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children
Goal: School Food FOCUS is a national collaborative that leverages the knowledge and procurement power of large school districts to make school meals nationwide more healthful, regionally sourced, and sustainably produced.
Impact: School Food FOCUS helps partners procure healthy and sustainable school foods, works towards policies that advance healthy school foods, and facilitates knowledge sharing around school food issues.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Governance, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: The mission of the New York City Department of Education wellness policy is to reduce sedentary lifestyle and to promote nutritious eating among children.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children, Urban
Goal: The mission of SSDP is to understand and promote healthy behaviors and positive social development among children, adolescents, and young adults.