The practices and models highlighted in this toolkit were selected not only for their alignment with Promise Neighborhoods goals of comprehensive, cradle-to-career support, but also for their foundation in research or success in local contexts. Each practice is grounded in evidence, whether supported by rigorous, peer-reviewed studies or by local data and evaluation from communities within the network. This combination underscores the commitment to using proven, adaptable strategies that meet the unique needs of diverse communities.

There is no one approach for determining the evidence base on a solution or practice. We have characterized evidence supporting each practice in one of the following three ways:

• Evaluated by the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC): The WWC has developed a standard for assessing whether a study provides “casual evidence” of the effective of a solution or practice. In some cases, WWC assesses the overall evidence base of a practice and develops a “practice guide” that summarizes the level of evidence. If a practice or model has been evaluated by the WWC, we provide the assessment of the evidence level and a direct link to the WWC resource.
• Some evidence base, but not evaluated by WWC: For promising practices that have an evidence base and rationale but have not been evaluated by the WWC or do not have studies that meet the WWC standards, we will reference relevant peer-reviewed literature and other research reports on the practice. We offer the resources as a reference but have not evaluated the quality or rigor of the studies.
• Limited peer reviewed studies or evaluations (emerging practice): In cases where practices lack a broader evidence base, such as locally developed practices that have shown success or newly implemented solutions, we document the local evidence, evaluation or data.