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.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education, Children, Older Adults
Goal: The goal of the project was to find a way for elementary school children to learn about the environment and participate in community service.
Enrolling and Supporting Organizations Who Encourage Donation of Organs, Marrow, Tissue, or Blood (Buncombe County, NC)
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Civic Engagement
Goal: In May, 2002, the Buncombe County Medical Society committed to enrolling 100 organizations into the Workplace Partnership initiative. BCMS declared itself "community headquarters" for recruiting Buncombe County businesses and organizations in the Workplace Partnership for Life program, and implemented a plan to support these organizations in their efforts to urge donation.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Urban
Goal: The goal of the project was to encourage chemical manufacturers to change to environmentally friendly products and production methods.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of this initiative is to promote the development of young people through after-school programs.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Families, Urban
Goal: The goal of this program is to prevent parents who are addicted to drugs from relapsing, and to prevent substance abuse among their children.
Impact: Although studies evaluating the effectiveness of this program on the behaviors of drug-using parents and their children showed some positive findings, the overall evidence suggested no effects.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Employment, Adults
Goal: The initiative's goal was to help young noncustodial fathers increase their employment and earnings, become more involved in their children's lives, and increase their financial support of their children.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Respiratory Diseases, Adults
Goal: The goal of the FirstAir Asthma Education Program is to increase knowledge of asthma treatments and improve self-management.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Community / Social Environment, Families
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide comprehensive statewide strategies for Florida to promote violence-free, substance-abuse-free, respectful, nurturing families based on the foundation of a healthy marriage relationship between parents.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Economy / Government Assistance
Goal: To help low-income people increase their access to healthy foods while building community and economic assets through local food production and distribution.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Teens
Goal: The goal of this program is to help girls in middle school (ages 11-14) acquire knowledge, skills, and support systems to avoid substance abuse.
Impact: In 2016, independent evaluation of PEERsuasion failed to find evidence that Friendly PEERsuasion was effective in delaying or reducing girls’ use of ATOD or changing girls’ attitudes toward ATOD use and their associations with peers who use substances.