Strategies

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

15 Strategies
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Career & technical education for high school completion

Provide career and technical education (CTE) as an integrated part of an academic curriculum for students, especially those at risk of dropping out of high school; also called vocational training
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Education

Career Academies

Establish small learning communities in high schools focused on fields such as health care, finance, technology, communications, or public service
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Education

Chicago Child-Parent Centers

Provide preschool education and comprehensive support to families with low incomes, including small classes, student meals, and home visits with referrals for social service support as needed
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Education

Early Head Start (EHS)

Provide child care, parent education, physical health and mental health services, and other family supports to pregnant women and parents with low incomes and children from birth to age three
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Education

Societal Rules

  • Budgets

High school completion programs

Provide supports such as mentoring, counseling, or vocational training, or change the school environment to help students complete high school
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Education

High school completion programs for pregnant and parenting teens

Provide pregnant and parenting teens with services such as education, vocational training, case management, health care, child care, and transportation assistance to support high school completion
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Education

High school equivalency credentials

Offer programs to help individuals without a high school diploma or its equivalent achieve a high school equivalency credential
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Education
  • Income, employment and wealth

HighScope Perry Preschool model

Provided high quality preschool with home visiting to African-American children from families with low incomes with an emphasis on active learning in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Education

Mentoring programs for high school graduation

Establish programs that connect students at risk of dropping out with trained adult mentors who provide ongoing guidance for academic and personal challenges
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Education