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, Economy / Income, Women, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The mission of La Cocina is to cultivate low-income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses by providing affordable commercial kitchen space, industry-specific technical assistance, and access to market opportunities.
Impact: La Cocina supports dozens of successful food businesses run by low-income women and people from immigrant communities.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Adolescent Health, Teens, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: To provide a temporary and safe housing solution to homeless adolescents and young adults aged 18-24.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Adolescent Health, Teens, Urban
Goal: To place former foster youth in their own homes within the community and provide complementary services.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Adolescent Health, Teens, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: To provide a shelter and services that assist homeless and runaway youth to transition into a stable living situation.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Community & Business Resources, Children, Urban
Goal: Larkin Street Youth Service's mission is "to create a continuum of services that inspires youth to move beyond the streets. We will nurture potential, promote dignity, and support bold steps for all." HIRE UP's mission is: "to provide homeless and runaway youth with an educational foundation and marketable skill set that will greatly increase their chances of progressing into an independent, productive adulthood."
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Goal: The goals of this program are to prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to nicotine, to help those addicted to quit, and to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke for all residents.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Older Adults
Goal: This program aims to protect seniors against West Nile virus exposure.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Families
Goal: The objectives of the campaign are (1) to educate parents about the importance of talking with their children and (2) to model techniques parents can use to have rich and elaborate conversations with their children.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Heart Disease & Stroke, Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Goal: The goal of the program is to identify and follow underserved adult residents with undiagnosed or untreated high blood pressure, cholesterol or glucose, provide education to encourage healthy lifestyle changes and encourage them to seek treatment – anyone without a primary care physician is referred to a participating FQHC.
Impact: Among those participants who were followed over time and were able to be reached by phone, there were significant increases in healthy food consumption as well as significant decreases in smoking, fat consumption, and fast food frequency.
Long-term Cost Effectiveness of Placing Homeless Seniors in Permanent Supportive Housing (San Francisco, CA)
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Women, Men, Older Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Goal: To describe a new model of enriched supportive housing that not only improves the quality of life of seniors but also can provide a return on investment that reduces health care expenditures.
Impact: Housing chronically homeless adults reduces homelessness, improves health outcomes, and reduces health care costs. The greatest reduction in health care costs after placement in supportive housing is seen among chronically homeless adults and seniors.