Westchester County, New York

Model Programs and Best Practices

As you endeavor to define and develop a program, it's often helpful to see what others have done before you. You can learn from the success and/or limitations of past and existing programs. The Web sites below offer a variety of tools and in some cases, databases of model programs, which may serve to be of value as you research and craft your program. This list is, by no means, exhaustive; and we encourage you to seek out other resources that may better suit your needs.

Blueprints for Violence Prevention

The Blueprints Initiative sets a gold standard for implementing exemplary, research-based violence and drug programs and for implementing these programs with fidelity to the models.

Child Trends

From the home page, select "What Works." Child Trends summarizes the best available research and evaluations to determine what works, what doesn't work and what are some "best bets" for anyone who designs, administers, or funds services for children and youth.

Development Services Group, Inc.

DSG uses technical knowledge and insight to improve the operations and information sharing of the governmental and non-governmental agencies they serve.

Education Development Center

EDC is a nonprofit organization with more than 325 projects in countries around the world. For 50 years, EDC has been dedicated to enhancing learning, promoting health, and fostering a deeper understanding about the world.

Promising and Effective Practices Network

PEPNet is a system for enhancing the quality of programs that link young people to work and education to promote a successful transition to adulthood.

Promising Practices in Afterschool

The PPAS System is an effort to find and share information about what is working in afterschool programs. The PPAS was designed for afterschool program directors who want to improve the quality of their programs.

Promising Practices Catalog

This catalog is a resource tool designed by The Finance Project to help you learn about exciting programs, practices, and initiatives across the country that aim to improve the futures of children, families and communities. It will help you learn what is happening elsewhere and develop innovative ideas for implementing, financing, and sustaining effective programs.

National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices

NREPP is a service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is a searchable database of interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders. This resource serves to help people, agencies, and organizations implement programs and practices in their communities.

National Youth Gang Center

The purpose of the NYGC is to assist policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in their efforts to reduce youth gang involvement and crime by contributing information, resources, practical tools and expertise towards the development and implementation of effective gang prevention, intervention and suppression strategies.

Tobacco Control Programs

CDC's Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs 2007 is an evidence-based guide to help states plan and establish effective tobacco control programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use.