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.
CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Lower BAC Laws for Young or Inexperienced Drivers (USA)
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Prevention & Safety, Teens, Adults
CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Maintaining Current Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) Laws (USA)
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Prevention & Safety, Adults
CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Reducing Psychological Harm from Traumatic Events: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents (Individual & Group) (USA)
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Children, Teens
CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Restricting Minors’ Access to Tobacco Products: Community Mobilization with Additional Interventions (USA)
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Children, Teens, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends community mobilization combined with additional interventions —such as stronger local laws directed at retailers, active enforcement of retailer sales laws, and retailer education with reinforcement—on the basis of sufficient evidence of effectiveness in reducing youth tobacco use and access to tobacco products from commercial sources.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children
The goal of this program is to reduce the negative impacts of divorce and separation on children.
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 Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Teens
The goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Depression is to treat depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Depression showed more rapid treatment response than both systematic behavior family therapy and non-directive support therapy. CBT also showed a greater rate of decline in self-reported depression over time.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Cancer, Adults, Urban
The goal of this program was to increase colorectal cancer screening recommendations and completion rates at a Veterans Affairs medical center.
Veterans Affairs (VA) patients in the intervention group received more recommendations for colorectal cancer screening and completed more screening tests compared to those in the control group.
Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) (formerly the Coronary Health Improvement Project) (Rockford, IL)
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Heart Disease & Stroke, Adults
The goal of the CHIP lifestyle intervention is to lower blood cholesterol, hypertension, and blood sugar levels and reduce excess weight.
CHIP has over 55,000 graduates worldwide and sustains adherence to the program guidelines through an active "ClubCHIP" member support organization.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
The goal of this program is to prevent the spread of this illness and protect human lives.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Women's Health, Children, Teens, Women
The goal of Girls' Circles is to enhance girls' abilities so they are able to take full advantage of their talents, academic interests, career pursuits, and potential for healthy relationships.
The program has shown statistically significant improvements for girls in Girls Circle programs with the following outcomes: increases in self-efficacy, attachment to school, positive body image, and social support, and decreases in self-harming behavior and alcohol use rates.