Strategies

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

114 Strategies
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School nutrition standards

Regulate the quality of food that can be sold to students through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), à la carte options, vending machines, etc.
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise
  • Climate

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies

School-based multi-component healthy lifestyle interventions

Combine educational, environmental, and behavioral activities that support positive changes for physical activity, dietary, and mental health habits (e.g., nutrition education, aerobic/strength training, counseling, etc.) in school settings
Evidence Rating:
Expert Opinion

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise

School-based nutrition education programs

Address nutrition in schools via educational (e.g., classroom or curricula-wide efforts, peer training, etc.), environmental (e.g., school menus, classroom snacks, etc.), and other approaches
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise

School-based physical education enhancements

Expand or enhance school-based physical education (PE) by lengthening existing classes, increasing physical activity during class, adding new PE classes, etc.
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise

Screen time interventions for children

Encourage children to spend time away from TV and other stationary screen media, often as part of a multi-faceted effort to increase physical activity and improve nutrition
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise

Sector-based workforce initiatives

Provide industry-focused education and job training based on the needs of regional employers within specific sectors
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Income, employment and wealth

Shared use agreements

Create contracts that support community access to existing public, private, or nonprofit facilities before or after business hours; also called joint use, open use, or community use agreements
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise
  • Civic and community resources

Societal Rules

  • Institutional practices

Soda taxes

Increase the price of sugar sweetened beverages (e.g., soda) by adding an excise or sales tax
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported

Community Conditions

  • Diet and exercise

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies

Summer youth employment programs

Provide short-term employment opportunities for youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds
Evidence Rating:
Some Evidence

Community Conditions

  • Safety and social support
  • Income, employment and wealth

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits

Explore ways to increase Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program benefit amounts for aged, blind, or disabled individuals, including children, with little or no income
Evidence Rating:
Expert Opinion

Community Conditions

  • Income, employment and wealth

Societal Rules

  • Laws and policies
  • Budgets