Strategies

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

119 Strategies
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Universal firearm background checks

Require both licensed firearm dealers and unlicensed (i.e., private) firearm sellers to conduct background checks of potential firearm purchasers; also known as comprehensive background checks
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies

Universal motorcycle helmet laws

Require all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear a helmet; laws are established statewide and may also include mopeds and scooters
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies

Urban agriculture

Support food-producing and income-earning activities in urban environments (e.g., edible landscapes, front yard or rooftop gardens, window farming, hydroponics, livestock, etc.)
Evidence Rating:
Expert Opinion

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise
  • Climate
  • Civic and community resources

Voter registration initiatives

Increase the number of registered voters through initiatives that reduce barriers and expand accessibility, including automatic voter registration (AVR), voter registration drives, easing voter registration requirements, and expanding registration sites
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Civic and community resources

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies
  • Governance

Voter turnout initiatives

Increase voter turnout through get-out-the-vote campaigns and initiatives to make voting more convenient such as allowing early in-person voting, vote-by-mail, or expanding polling locations and hours
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Civic and community resources

Societal Rules

  • Governance

Youth civics education

Teach students attitudes, skills, knowledge, and behavior needed to participate in and contribute to a democracy
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Education
  • Civic and community resources

Societal Rules

  • Worldviews, culture and norms

Youth football full contact rules

Restrict full contact between youth football players via limits to the number of contact practices, head hits per player, delay tackling until a certain age, etc.
Evidence Rating:
Expert Opinion

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support

Youth leadership programs

Provide youth with leadership building opportunities, often through social activities such as advocacy groups, peer education, youth-led participatory research, and local government youth advisory councils and boards
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support
  • Civic and community resources

Youth transfer to the adult criminal justice system

Transfer youth who are arrested from the juvenile justice system to the adult criminal justice system by discretionary transfer decisions or transfer qualifying criteria
Evidence Rating:
Evidence of Ineffectiveness

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies