What Works for Health

Evidence matters. Our What Works for Health tool will help you find policies and programs that are a good fit for your community's priorities.

NEW: Rural Health Curated Strategy List

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Strategies by topic

Alcohol and drug use Diet and exercise Sexual activity Tobacco use Clinical care Housing and transportation Air, water and land Climate Civic and community resources Education Income, employment and wealth Safety and social support
Young child and mother playing on a playground on a sunny day.

Curated Strategy Lists

Each What Works for Health Curated Strategy List is carefully selected by our expert evidence analysts to include evidence-informed programs, policies and systems changes that can support community change efforts around specific topics and themes.  

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Featured strategies

These strategies can help your community in its health improvement journey.

Community arts programs

Support locally-based visual, media, and performing arts initiatives for children and adults; also called participatory arts programs
Evidence Rating:
Expert Opinion
Community Condition:

School breakfast programs

Support programs to provide students with a nutritious breakfast in the cafeteria, from grab and go carts in hallways, or in classrooms
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported
Community Conditions:

Building retrofits towards net zero energy

Implement retrofits to improve building envelopes, system efficiency, and renewable energy sources; comprehensive retrofits can become net zero energy buildings
Evidence Rating:
Scientifically Supported
Community Condition:

Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws

Restrict firearm access for individuals who are at risk of harming themselves or others by petitioning a civil court for an extreme risk protection...
Evidence Rating:
Expert Opinion
Community Condition:
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Learn how you can effectively use What Works for Health to find evidence-informed policies and programs to make a difference in your community and explore what's behind our evidence ratings.

Methods and ratings Finding health strategies

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