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 Local, Good Idea, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The goal of the program is to promote health and prevent injury among seniors through a series of community-based strength training classes.
Filed under Local, Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Children, Families, Rural
Goal: The mission of the Teddy Bear Clinic is to decrease fear of medical professionals and the hospital environment, and to teach healthy habits at a young age.
Impact: The program has been highly regarded throughout the community, and we have had requests from parents outside the community to offer it to their schools as well. We are considering hosting two clinics for other schools to join.
Filed under Local, Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Families, Rural
Goal: The Perfect 10 Project objective is to increase the initiation rates of breastfeeding to 84%, increase our duration rates of breastfeeding by 25% at 6 months to 35.8% (currently 28.6%), and 32.6% at one year (currently 18.1%).
Impact: There were 102 physician referrals from the Lower 8 counties for breastfeeding assistance in the first six months of 2016, 148 breastfeeding moms were helped through our after-hours hotline in the first six months, and 24 moms attended our Mommy & Me breastfeeding support group.
Filed under Local, Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Women, Families
Goal: The goal of the WIC Community Garden is to educate, empower and feed the families in the Kansas WIC program, creating a healthier community.
Impact: In a three-month period, 356.8 pounds of fresh vegetables were given to WIC families.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Goal: The objectives of WOW are to promote optimal health, to reduce behavioral risks and to promote early detection and improved management of health problems and risks.
Direct Mailing of Fecal Occult Blood Tests to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening (Wright County, MN)
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults
Goal: The goal of this program was to increase colorectal cancer screening using direct mailings of fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits for noninvasive colon cancer screening.
Impact: Direct mailing of FOBT kits resulted in an increase in self-reported colon cancer screening adherence.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults
Goal: The goal of this program is to improve colorectal cancer screening rates among older adults.
Impact: Participants in the intervention group had significantly higher colorectal cancer screening attendance, as well as having more positive attitudes about screening and placing a higher priority on screening.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Government Assistance, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services for the residents of Hennepin County.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children
Goal: The goal of this program is to prevent delinquency, substance abuse, and school dropout in high risk children.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Health Care Access & Quality, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: 2004 goals of the New Families Center include screening 1,600 children for eligibility in health coverage programs, enrolling 700 children in health care coverage programs, immunizing over 1,300 children; and serving 900 families in need of health care navigation services to help address individual barriers to getting health care.