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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.

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Step Forward, Erlanger (Erlanger, KY)

Filed under Effective Practice, Art & Recreation / Sports Recreation & Parks, Families

Goal: The purpose of the initiative is to construct a complete sidewalk loop throughout the City of Erlanger in order to promote physical activity.

Take Back the Park (New York, NY)

Filed under Effective Practice, Art & Recreation / Sports Recreation & Parks, Urban

Goal: The goal of this program is to provide positive recreational, cultural, and educational activities for young people and adults in New York neighborhoods.

The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps Project (San Francisco)

Filed under Good Idea, Community / Social Environment, Adults, Older Adults, Families, Urban

Goal: The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps Project was a neighborhood effort to create a mosaic running up the risers of 163 steps.

The City as a Park - Climate change reduction and city beautification in Denver (City of Denver)

Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Air

Goal: To slow climate change by reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere while also establishing a network of public spaces where residents can walk to enjoy a vibrant urban landscape and healthy ecosystem.

The Evergreen Jogging Path (Boyle Heights, CA)

Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban

Goal: To create a place for the citizens of Boyle Heights, CA to exercise which is safe and easy to access and thus promotes regular physical activity.

The Green Map System (GMS)

Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Built Environment

Goal: The goal of the Green Map System is to cultivate citizen participation and community sustainability in hundreds of places around the world.

The Healthy Hawaii Initiative (Hawaii)

Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Children

Goal: The goal of this program is to improve health and increase physical activity in Hawaii.

The SALUD Initiative (Santa Ana, CA)

Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Physical Activity

Goal: The goal of the program is to restore open space and promote active living in the community.

The Staten Island Botanical Garden (Staten Island, NY)

Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Built Environment, Urban

Goal: The goals of the SIBG are to reflect man's relationship to nature and to provide educational and recreational opportunities for Staten Island residents and visitors.

Urban Improv (Boston, MA)

Filed under Effective Practice, Art & Recreation / Theater & Movies, Children, Urban

Goal: Urban Improv’s mission is to challenge young people to meet the major issues in their lives head-on. By participating in an innovative, interactive curriculum, students develop the necessary skills of problem solving, cooperation, and leadership.

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.

A Good Idea meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program funding source, program implementation steps and outcomes.
  2. The program evaluation is limited to descriptive measure(s) of success/accomplishment (i.e., program participation rates, number of services/education sessions/radio messages provided). Note: oftentimes, the program has been newly implemented and a program evaluation has not yet been conducted. Programs that have not yet been evaluated, but which show promise in improving health or quality of life, are classified as Good Ideas until an evaluation is conducted.

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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