Strategies

What Works for Health includes evidence-informed strategies to create communities where everyone can thrive.

134 Strategies
Clear all

Rain barrels

Use ready-made or home constructed barrel systems to collect and store rainwater from rooftops that would otherwise flow to storm drains and streams
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Air, water and land
  • Climate

Rapid re-housing programs

Transition families and individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent housing quickly, often with supports such as short-term financial assistance, case management, landlord negotiations, etc.
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Housing and transportation

Societal Rules

  • Institutional practices

Responsible beverage server training (RBS/RBST)

Educate owners, managers, servers, and sellers at alcohol establishments about strategies to avoid illegally selling alcohol to underage youth or intoxicated patrons
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Alcohol and drug use

Restaurant nutrition labeling

Provide nutrition information on menus and signboards at restaurants and other food outlets
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise

Retail alcohol sale privatization

Repeal government control over retail sales of alcoholic beverages, allowing commercial retailing of those beverages
Evidence Rating:
Evidence of Ineffectiveness

Community Conditions

  • Alcohol and drug use

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies

Scared Straight

Organize tours of prison facilities for juvenile delinquents or youth at risk of delinquency and allow them to observe prison life and attend inmates’ presentations; also called juvenile awareness programs
Evidence Rating:
Evidence of Ineffectiveness

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support

School and district level zero tolerance policies

Require school officials to apply predetermined consequences for certain infractions, regardless of situational context or circumstances; consequences are usually severe (e.g., suspension or expulsion)
Evidence Rating:
Evidence of Ineffectiveness

Community Conditions

  • Education

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies

School food & beverage restrictions

Limit access to competitive foods and beverages in schools via restrictions on foods that are not provided through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies

School-based intimate partner violence prevention programs

Provide youth with teen dating violence education that addresses healthy relationships, gender norms, relationship coercion, and violence in a school setting
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support