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 / Children's Health, Children, Families, Urban
The goal of Safe Passages' Early Childhood Initiative is to reduce the impact of violence on young children and to encourage the development of positive social skills and healthy family environments in order to prevent future violence.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Urban
The goal of this program is to redistribute food waste to food banks, farmers, and compost.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Children, Teens, Urban
SFUSD aimed to provide students with healthy and appealing food choices and to diminish the dependence of schools and school-related organizations on selling unhealthy foods.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Government Assistance, Families, Urban
-increasing the federal EITC take-up rate;
-promoting asset-building; and
-retaining families in San Francisco.
Filed under Effective Practice, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Children, Teens, Adults, Older Adults, Urban
SMURRF aims to mitigate the pollution affecting Santa Monica Bay from urban runoff and raise public awareness of Santa Monica Bay pollution. We have reviewed the SMURRF system and began an investigation of installing a RO system to produce potable water in the coming years. This goal is to contribute to the city’s new sustainable master water plan to become self-reliant on local water by 2020
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / School Environment, Children, Teens, Urban
The goal of this program is to reduce violent tendencies among youth through civic education.
Filed under Effective Practice, Education / Literacy, Children
Schools of Hope aims to increase third-grade reading proficiency to 75% by 2015 and 90% by 2020.
Students tutored through Schools of Hope have an increased reading proficiency compared to other students.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Older Adults, Older Adults
The goal of Serving Our Seniors is to help senior citizens live independently in their homes.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Physical Activity, Racial/Ethnic Minorities, Urban
Shape Up SF aims to reduce health disparities by creating healthy eating and active living environments and improving physical activity and nutrition.
Shape Up SF implemented Safe Routes to School, Bayview HEAL Zone, PE4SF, Rethink Your Drink, Southeast Food Access (SEFA) Working Group, SEFA Food Guardians, and Walking Challenge, and increased physical activity and access to healthy foods in San Francisco.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Children's Health, Children
The goal of this program is to prevent children's exposure to secondhand smoke.