Find Resources
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
A recommendations report for advancing health equity in the Massachusetts Legislature. Especially as the state continues response to and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the report ultimately emphasizes the necessity of an equity lens in decision-making. Its guiding principles also include the need for the community to be a partner and have a voice in government decision-making, the need for complete and actionable data, and the acknowledgement that returning to the pre-pandemic “normal” is not an option when attempting to alleviate the disparities created by that “normal”. The report outlines immediate, intermediate, and long term actions towards health equity on a policy level. These recommendations impact healthcare, social determinants of health, governance, and more.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This article discusses the work of Israel’s multidisciplinary academic group on children and coronavirus (MACC) to examine the role of children in viral transmission and assessing the necessity and consequences of restricted in-class education. This article focuses on the evolution, activities, policy inputs, and media profile of MACC, and discusses the role of academics in advocacy and activism in the midst of a global pandemic.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Toolkit
This guide is designed to help district leaders understand and respond to the specific teacher staffing gaps they’re facing, focusing on time-tested strategies that will make an immediate impact: ideas for covering absences, filling existing vacancies, and addressing chronic shortages exacerbated by the pandemic in key subject areas and in schools serving historically marginalized communities. It also offers advice on how districts can plan—in partnership with stakeholders inside and outside education—for longer-term changes to teacher pipelines, the employee value proposition for teachers, and the teacher role itself that will bring many more talented professionals into the classroom to support students in the critical years ahead.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Toolkit
This toolkit is an easy-to-use, practical resource that aims to help leaders make decisions and actionable plans amid these complicated questions. The planning framework that is the crux of this toolkit takes leaders through four key steps: Reground, Prioritize, Plan, and Connect. At each step, leaders are prompted with a series of key questions to help clarify their thinking and decision-making. These resources help leaders move from making decisions in a reactive, crisis-driven way to developing intentional short- and long-term actionable plans.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
Data from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (AMES) was used by CDC to assess 9th-12th grade student behaviors and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of poor mental health and suicidality was high across students of all sex, sexual identity, and racial and ethnic groups; however, poor mental health, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were less prevalent among those who felt close to persons at school and were virtually connected with others during the pandemic. The mental health of youth might be improved via strategies that improve connections with others at home, in the community, and at school.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
Blue Shield of California’s Community Health Advocates (CHA) Program was created to support whole person-health needs by helping individuals of all socio-economic statuses navigate and access community resources, social services, and medical systems. The Health Reimagined initiative embeds Community Health Advocates within physical health practices to increase access to social services and community resources, improve health outcomes, reduce medical costs, and improve overall patient experience. Interviews and focus groups were held and found value in adding CHA’s to the care team. During the pandemic, CHAs have been important. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have made the need for holistic, community-integrated care even more urgent.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
White Paper/Brief
This article includes the key themes and recommendations from a panel discussion of public health practitioners and researchers on the role of complementary and integrative health (CHI) providers, including chiropractors and naturopathic doctors. Throughout the pandemic, public health and medical practitioners have been overwhelmed, whereas CHI providers experienced reductions in their clinical practices. This article examines the barriers to involving CHI practitioners in COVID-19 response and provides recommendations and solutions for removing these barriers.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The intervention outlined in this study took place at a hospital in Italy, and was designed to reduce or prevent provider burnout during the onset of the pandemic. The intervention included having six psychologists always present in the clinical setting to provide on-site as needed services to physicians, nurses, and other hospital staff. A PTSD short scale survey was also conducted to better understand the mental health needs of the providers in the hospital (such as psychosis, sleep problems, mania, suicidal ideation, and more). Providers noting mild to moderate symptoms were offered up to five sessions with a psychologist or psychotherapist.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article presents the results of a non-randomized controlled trial comparing in-person vs. telemedicine treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder in South Carolina. The authors found no statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes for women who received care in-person vs. via telemedicine, and no statistically significant difference in outcomes for the newborns of women in these respective groups. The authors were unable to assign trial participants to telemedicine vs. in-person care at random due to the inability of some rural patients to attend treatment in person. Also, the sample size was not sufficient to achieve ~80% power to detect a difference between the two groups. At the same time, the practice strategy is considered useful for helping to deliver telehealth treatment for vulnerable populations, including pregnant and newly parenting people with substance use disorder, and people living in rural communities.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article details the results of a randomized clinical trial evaluating web-based versus in-person substance use disorder counseling. While participants who completed the study reported similar levels of satisfaction with treatment, and similar rates of attendance and drug-positive urinalysis results, it should be noted that most study withdrawal occurred among participants assigned to the web-based intervention, with 26 participants withdrawing due to problems with computer or internet function. If this program were replicated in other settings, the digital divide could pose a barrier to equitable outcomes. The practice strategy this article is focused on is telemedicine for treatment of substance use disorder.