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Note: This practice has been Archived.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 Effective Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children
Goal: The goal of the Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma is to improve asthma care for those at greatest risk through education, outreach, and advocacy.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Community / Crime & Crime Prevention, Teens, Urban
Goal: The goal of this program is to reduce Philadelphia's homicide rate and put violent youthful offenders on the path toward a productive majority.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Children's Health, Children, Teens
Goal: The goal of this program is to enhance the resiliency of children in order to promote positive development and prevent them from engaging in high-risk behaviors such as substance use, early sexual activity, or violence.
Impact: Studies of the program showed that participants' reactions to situations involving drug use and their attitudes toward school, the future, and elders were significantly better than those without the intervention. Students in the program also had fewer days absent from school than nonparticipants.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Education / Literacy, Children
Goal: The goal of In2Books is to promote reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in students grades three through five through partnership with a pen pal, and provide teachers with a structured curriculum designed to enhance their students' learning experiences.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Children, Teens
Goal: The Children's National Food Allergy School Nurse Education Program seeks to increase knowledge about childhood food allergy through a standardized educational curriculum.
Impact: The Children's National Food Allergy School Nurse Education Program significantly increased the percent of nurses in the District of Columbia who believed students were teased or bullied due to food allergy and felt food allergy was a serious health concern for which schools should have guidelines.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Student Performance K-12, Children, Urban
Goal: By providing programs for students and adults in the areas of literacy, the visual and performing arts, and service learning, NSCC's goals include improving students' performance in school and encouraging parents to become more involved.
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 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 Good Idea, Community / Transportation, Urban
Goal: The key objective of the initiative was to promote sustainable, transit-oriented, mixed-use economic and community development that would promote investment, create jobs, attract and expand businesses, raise incomes, reduce poverty, stabilize and improve housing and neighbourhoods. The main strategy was to develop three key industry networks: media/publications, information technology/telecommunications and the entertainment industry in the NoMa area.
Note: This practice has been Archived.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Built Environment, Urban
Goal: Open Road was created to develop programs and environments with and for young people that promote community, independence and self respect. They develop these programs in partnership with neighborhood groups in need of new natural, educational, and recreational environments. These new environments create new bonds between people of all ages, who unite to establish a living community resource.