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 / Health Care Access & Quality, Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
The goal of the Hospital Diversion Initiative is to connect individuals who chronically utilize the inpatient and emergency rooms with outpatient care.
After three months in the program, participants showed a 66% reduction in ER visits, 68% reduction in inpatient hospital stays, a 72% decrease in homelessness, an 18% reduction in unemployment, and a 66% decrease in past 30 day arrests. More than 350 individuals have been served so far.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Adults, Urban
The goal was to create a housing program as one way to respond to chronic homelessness and associated health concerns.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Families
The goal of Housing First is to move families into stable and affordable housing.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Economy / Housing & Homes, Adults, Urban
Housing for Health program goals are to improve patients’ health, reduce costs to the public health system, and demonstrate DHS’s commitment to addressing homelessness within Los Angeles County.
The average public service utilization cost per participant for the year prior to housing totaled $38,146; in the year after receiving housing, it totaled $15,358. When taking into account PSH costs, RAND observed a 20-percent net cost savings, suggesting a potential cost benefit of the program.
Huesos Fuertes, Familia Saludable (Strong Bones, Healthy Family): California Bone Health Campaign (California)
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Women, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
The goal of the CBHC is to increase the consumption of 1% (low-fat) milk in order to prevent osteoporosis among low-income Latino mothers.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children
The goals of the I Am Moving, I Am Learning program is to prevent childhood obesity by (1) increasing the quantity of time children spend in moderate to vigorous physical activity; (2) improving the quality of structured movement activities in the classroom; and (3) promoting healthy food choices among Head Start children.
Increasing Age-Appropriate Immunization Rates for Children in Butler County and Surrounding Area (Butler County, KS)
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Children, Rural
The goal of this program was to increase immunization rates in the Butler County area.
Immunization rates increased from 53.2% to 72.4% and parents reported a better understanding of the importance of timely vaccinations.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Children
The goal of this program was to reduce health and developmental problems for low-birth-weight and premature infants.
Intervention Mapping and the Development of a Peer Supported Diabetes Self-Management Program in Rural Alabama (Alabama)
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Diabetes, Teens, Older Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Rural
The intervention is a diabetes self-management program that utilizes peer advisers to reach patients who have poor health literacy, are physically isolated, and require assistance with managing their diabetes.