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, Families
Goal: California Healthy Start's mission is to provide comprehensive services that support the wide variety of needs of children and further student learning.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Investment & Personal Finance
Goal: The goal of this campaign is to help families close the gap between their income and their expenses, and develop financial assets by connecting them to advice about non-predatory, quality financial services, savings options, wealth building resources, credit building, and public benefits.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Teens, Urban
Goal: The goal of this program is to foster academic success among at-risk students.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens, Adults, Urban
Goal: The goal of the program is to provide at-risk youth with mentorship and employment skills.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Children, Teens, Urban
Goal: The goal of Caring for Kids is to provide youth impacted by a loved one's substance use with the tools they need to stay safe and build a healthy life, and to reduce the likelihood that impacted youth will abuse substances.
Impact: In 2013, more than 250 youth were impacted by Caring for Kids. 90% of youth participants showed a decreased likelihood of alcohol or other drug use, and 100% completed an action plan.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Prevention & Safety, Teens, Women, Urban
Goal: The Centering Pregnancy Plus Project aims to reduce risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and improve health outcomes for young pregnant women, aged 14-21.
Impact: Facilitated group discussions promoting condom use among young women can increase condom use among participants.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce the negative impacts of divorce and separation on children.
Impact: Children of parents in the program said they felt caught in the middle less often compared to those of non-participants, and reported less stress in general. Parents who took the course also reported more awareness of their children's feelings, and had better communication with their children.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children, Families
Goal: Children's Futures' mission is to improve child health and developmental outcomes through public-private collaboration.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Children, Families
Goal: Children's Village seeks to connect children with special needs and their families with supportive services.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Children
Goal: The Children’s Health Fund’s mission is to provide health care to the nation's most medically underserved children through the development and support of primary care medical programs. The fund also responds to public health crises and works to promote access to health care for all children.
Impact: Children's Health Fund provides medical, dental, and mental health care to approximately 83,000 low-income and homeless children and their family members each year through mobile medical clinics.