Establish a break from the school day, typically before lunch, that involves planned, inclusive, actively supervised games or activities; also called semi-structured, or structured recess
What Works for Health
Policies and programs that can improve health
Activity programs for older adults
Offer group educational, social, or physical activities that promote social interactions, regular attendance, and community involvement among older adults
Administrative license suspension/revocation laws
Enable law enforcement to immediately take the license of a driver who fails or refuses to take a chemical test for alcohol
Adult vocational training
Support acquisition of job-specific skills through education, certification programs, or on-the-job training, often with personal development resources and other supports
Advocacy for victims of intimate partner violence
Work to empower victims of intimate partner violence, help them with safety plans, and link them with community services (e.g., legal, housing, financial advice, emergency shelter, etc.)
Affordable housing tax increment financing (TIF)
Create designated tax districts that generate revenue to invest in affordable housing initiatives, blight remediation, and economic development efforts
Alcohol access restrictions in public places
Restrict alcohol availability and use at sporting events, other public events (e.g., concerts and street fairs) and in public spaces such as parks and beaches
Alcohol advertising restrictions
Restrict the content and placement of alcohol advertisements on broadcasts, outdoor displays, internet marketing, etc. via state laws, local ordinances, industry self-regulation, or a combination of efforts
Alcohol brief interventions
Provide information and increase motivation to change or prevent problematic alcohol consumption in a short session; also called alcohol screening & brief intervention
Alcohol days of sale restrictions
Limit the days alcohol can be sold in on-premise settings such as bars and restaurants or in off-premise outlets such as liquor and convenience stores; sometimes with limits to times of sale
Alcohol outlet density restrictions
Limit increases in the number and concentration of alcohol outlets by area or by population through licensing or zoning regulations
Alcohol taxes
Increase the price of alcohol via regular adjustments to taxes levied for beer, wine, and liquor purchases
Allied dental professional scope of practice
Expand the role of allied dental professionals (e.g., hygienists, therapists, etc.) via changes to statute, dentist supervision requirements, etc.
Alternative fuels initiatives
Support alternative fuel and vehicle use via financial incentives (e.g., tax benefits, rebates, etc.), mandates (e.g., consumption targets or renewable fuel standards), research and development investments, etc.
Alternative high schools for at-risk students
Provide educational and social services in an alternative setting for students at-risk of dropping out of traditional high schools
Attendance interventions for chronically absent students
Support interventions that provide chronically absent students with resources to improve self-esteem, social skills, etc. and address familial and school-related factors that can contribute to poor attendance
Automated speed enforcement cameras
Use devices such as speed cameras, laser devices, radar, etc. to enforce speed limits; devices can be permanent fixtures or be used manually by law enforcement officers
Ban the Box
Prohibit criminal history questions on job applications and postpone background checks
Behavioral health primary care integration
Revise health care processes and provider roles to integrate mental health and substance abuse treatment into primary care; continue to refer patients with severe conditions to specialty care
Behavioral interventions to prevent HIV and other STIs
Use individual, group, and community-level interventions to provide education, support, and training that can affect social norms about HIV and other STIs
Bicycle helmet laws
Establish laws that require bicyclists to wear helmets; laws can apply to children or all bicyclists and can be established at the state or local level
Bicycle paths, lanes & tracks
Accommodate or provide dedicated space for bicyclists via bicycle paths, lanes, cycle tracks or protected bike lanes, etc.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)
Match disadvantaged or at-risk youth with volunteer mentors in school or community settings
Bike & pedestrian master plans
Establish a framework to increase walking and biking trails and improve connectivity of non-auto paths and trails in a particular area
Birthing Project SisterFriends
Provide one-on-one advice, education, and emotional and social support to women of color, by volunteer women of color, during pregnancy and for one year after birth
Blood alcohol concentration laws
Set legal limits for drivers’ blood alcohol concentrations (BACs)
Breastfeeding promotion programs
Provide education, information, counseling, and support for breastfeeding to women throughout pre- and post-natal care
Breath testing checkpoints
Implement checkpoints where law enforcement officers can stop drivers suspected of drinking and driving and assess their level of alcohol impairment; also called sobriety checkpoints
Bridge programs for hard-to-employ adults
Provide basic skills (e.g., reading, math, writing, English language, or soft skills) and industry-specific training with other supports; also called occupationally contextualized basic education programs
CAFO regulations
Establish local regulations for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that address location, size, facility management, and pollution contributions to complement US EPA regulations
Campus alcohol bans
Restrict alcohol consumption anywhere on a college or university campus or only in specific areas (e.g., residence halls)
Car seat distribution & education programs
Provide parents with car seats free of charge, via loan or low cost rental, often with education about proper installation and use
Car seat education & enforcement campaigns
Share information about the importance of proper car seat use and enforce existing laws via checkpoints, dedicated law enforcement officials, etc.
Car seat incentive & education programs
Educate parents and caregivers about proper use of car seats and reward parents and/or children for correct use
Career & technical education for high school graduation
Provide career and technical education (CTE) as an integrated part of an academic curriculum for students at risk of dropping out of high school; also called vocational training
Career Academies
Establish small learning communities in high schools focused on fields such as health care, finance, technology, communications, or public service
Career pathways programs
Provide occupation-specific training for low-skilled individuals in high-growth industries, with education and supports, usually with stackable credentials and work experience opportunities
Carpool & rideshare programs
Help commuters share transportation through informal arrangements between individuals, formally arranged dynamic ridesharing programs, or other ride-matching services
Case-managed care for community-dwelling frail elders
Use a case management model for frail elderly patients living independently, coordinating aspects of long-term care (LTC) such as status assessment, monitoring, advocacy, care planning, etc.
Cell phone-based tobacco cessation interventions
Deliver tobacco cessation advice and motivational messages via text or video message
CenteringPregnancy
Provide prenatal care in a group setting, integrating health assessment, education, and support
Certificates of employability
Issue certificates of employability to individuals with criminal convictions who have met pre-specified standards of rehabilitation; also called certificates of relief, reentry, good conduct, rehabilitation, recovery, etc.
Charter schools
Establish publicly financed schools that are not subject to many of the regulations that govern traditional public schools, such as staffing, curriculum, and budgeting requirements.
Chicago Child-Parent Centers
Provide preschool education and comprehensive support to low income families, including small classes, student meals, and home visits with referrals for social service support as needed
Child bicycle helmet promotion programs
Promote child bicycle helmet use via bicycle safety education, media campaigns, or provision of free or subsidized helmets
Child care subsidies
Provide financial assistance to working parents, or parents attending school, to pay for center-based or certified in-home child care
Child development accounts
Establish dedicated child development accounts (CDAs) to build assets over time with contributions from family, friends, and sometimes, supporting organizations; also called children’s savings accounts (CSAs)
Child firearm access prevention laws
Impose penalties on adults for a child’s unsupervised access to firearms or violation of safe firearm storage requirements
Child tax credit expansion
Expand federal or state child tax credits by increasing credit amounts, making credits refundable, decreasing or eliminating the earnings threshold, or creating a fully refundable supplement
Child-focused advertising restrictions for unhealthy foods & beverages
Restrict child-focused advertising for unhealthy foods and beverages via bans on unhealthy food and drink ads during children’s TV programs, product placement in children’s movies, etc.