Our Sources

There are many avenues to find evidence of effectiveness. This page highlights a number of web sites we consider in our review and assessment of evidence. To learn more about strategies that can work in your community, you may find it helpful to look at some of these sites along with What Works for Health. You may also choose to conduct your own evidence review.

Systematic Review Resources

Systematic reviews are considered the gold standard of evidence. These web sites provide systematic reviews for various content areas:

• The Campbell Collaboration Library of Systematic Reviews
• The Cochrane Library
• The Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide)
• healthevidence.org
• Health Systems Evidence

Rating Organizations

Many government and private organizations assess the effectiveness of policies and programs and assign evidence ratings. Organizations focus on a variety of topics; each has its own criteria to assess and rate evidence of effectiveness, and its own rating 'labels'. Examples include:

• AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange
• Best Evidence Encyclopedia
• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development
• The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC)
• Public Health Law Research (PHLR)
• What Works Clearinghouse
• Youth.gov

Published and Grey Literature  

Studies published in academic journals or through government or private entities can also provide information on evidence of effectiveness. Examples of organizations that produce relevant studies include:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• The Commonwealth Fund
• Mathematica Policy Research
• MDRC
• The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
• RAND Corporation
• Urban Institute
• US Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Library (PubAg)
• Violence Prevention Evidence Base and Resources