Full List of Programs

Prenatal / Early Childhood

Nurse-Family Partnership

A nurse home visitation program for low-income, pregnant women
UPDATED: Jan 03, 2020
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show major impact on life outcomes of the mothers and their children.
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Child FIRST

A home visitation program for low-income families with young children at risk of emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems, or child maltreatment
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable reduction in child maltreatment cases, and improvement in child conduct and language development.
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The Triple P System

A system of parenting programs for families with children age 0-8
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial of the full system as implemented county-wide shows sizable reductions in child maltreatment and foster care placements.
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A Pregnant Woman’s Self-Help Guide to Quit Smoking

A low-cost smoking cessation program for pregnant smokers
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable increase in the quit rate during the last four to five months of pregnancy.
Read More

Abecedarian Project

A high-quality child care/preschool program for children from disadvantaged backgrounds
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial found major impacts on educational and life outcomes; we note, however, that it was a relatively small study that included departures from random assignment, reducing confidence in the findings.
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Health Care Program for First-Time Adolescent Mothers and their Infants

A health care program for first-time, teenage mothers that provides counseling on birth control and education on basic parenting and child health
UPDATED: Nov 21, 2017
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable reduction in subsequent teen pregnancies and increase in rate of child immunizations.
Read More

Perry Preschool Project

A high-quality preschool program for children from disadvantaged backgrounds
UPDATED: Oct 05, 2021
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial found major impacts on educational and life outcomes; we note, however, that it was a relatively small study that included departures from random assignment, reducing confidence in the findings.
Read More

Recovery Coaches

A program for substance-abusing parents who have temporarily lost custody of their children
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows an increase in family reunifications, reduction in active foster care cases, and net savings to the state.
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K-12 Education

ASSISTments

An online study tool for seventh grade math
UPDATED: Aug 24, 2024
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable impact on math achievement, sustained through the end of eighth grade.
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Career Academies

Small learning communities in low-income high schools, offering academic and career/technical courses as well as workplace opportunities
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable positive impact on earnings of participants eight years after their scheduled high school graduation.
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KIPP Charter Schools

A nonprofit network of 280 college-preparatory, public charter schools that serve a predominantly low-income, minority population of students from pre-K through high school.
UPDATED: Oct 11, 2023
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable effects on reading and math achievement of elementary and middle school students two to three years after random assignment.
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Saga Math Tutoring

A math tutoring program for 9th and 10th graders in low-income high schools
UPDATED: Jul 11, 2024
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable increase in students' math achievement, sustained through the end of 11th grade.
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Annual Book Fairs in High-Poverty Elementary Schools

Book fairs providing summer reading over three consecutive years, starting at the end of first or second grade
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in students’ reading achievement three years after random assignment.
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Learning Accounts

A program providing financial aid for post-secondary education to low-income 10th grade students, conditioned on their progress through high school
UPDATED: Sep 24, 2019
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in the rates of both high school graduation and college graduation.
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New York City’s Small Schools of Choice

Small public high schools created citywide in mostly high-poverty communities to replace large, low-performing high schools
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in the rates of four-year high school graduation and receipt of a New York State Regents diploma.
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Promise Academy Charter Middle School in the Harlem Children’s Zone

A charter middle school in New York City, serving mainly low-income, minority students
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in the four-year high school graduation rate and scores on New York Regents tests required for graduation.
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Check and Connect

A dropout prevention program for high school students with learning, emotional, and/or behavioral disabilities
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable decrease in students’ dropout rates, and increase in attendance and academic credits earned.
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First-Grade Classroom Prevention Program

A program that combines a classroom management strategy – the Good Behavior Game – with an enhanced academic curriculum
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable reduction in substance use, and sizable increases in high school graduation and college enrollment rates.
Read More

Montreal Prevention Program

A delinquency prevention program for disruptive elementary school boys
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in high school graduation rates, and decrease in criminal behavior, in early adulthood.
Read More

Start Making a Reader Today (SMART) Program

A volunteer tutoring program for at-risk readers in early elementary school
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable positive impact on students’ reading ability.
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Success for All for Grades K-2

A school-wide reform program, primarily for high-poverty elementary schools, with a strong emphasis on reading instruction
UPDATED: Jan 12, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows positive impact in raising school-wide reading achievement in grades K-2; however, key effects were not reproduced in a second trial.
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Tutoring with Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing

A program for at-risk readers in grades K-2
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable positive impacts on reading ability for students with poor phonological processing (e.g., letter naming, and awareness of the sounds within words).
Read More

Postsecondary Education

Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) and Accelerate, Complete, Engage (ACE)

A comprehensive program that provides academic, personal, and financial supports to low-income college students.
UPDATED: Jul 11, 2024
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable increase in college graduation rates.
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Bottom Line

A comprehensive program that provides one-on-one advising to help students from low-income backgrounds get into and graduate from college.
UPDATED: Oct 27, 2021
Top Tier
Multi-site randomized controlled trial shows sizable increase in bachelor’s degree attainment.
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Learning Accounts

A program providing financial aid for post-secondary education to low-income 10th grade students, conditioned on their progress through high school
UPDATED: Sep 24, 2019
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in the rates of both high school graduation and college graduation.
Read More

H&R Block College Financial Aid Application Assistance

Streamlined personal assistance in the application process for low and moderate income students
UPDATED: Sep 25, 2020
Suggestive Tier
Multi-site randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in college attendance and possible modest effect on college completion.
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InsideTrack College Coaching

A mentoring program for college students
UPDATED: Nov 21, 2017
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows an increase in college persistence and likelihood of college graduation.
Read More

Employment and Welfare

Career Academies

Small learning communities in low-income high schools, offering academic and career/technical courses as well as workplace opportunities
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable positive impact on earnings of participants eight years after their scheduled high school graduation.
Read More

Year Up

A workforce training program for economically-disadvantaged young adults, focused on high-growth economic sectors (information technology and financial services)
UPDATED: Oct 26, 2022
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial finds major earnings gains for low-income young adults across eight study sites.
Read More

Nevada’s Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Program

A program for Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants, providing review of their UI eligibility and personalized reemployment services
UPDATED: Dec 07, 2023
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable increase in earnings and net savings to the taxpayer.
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Per Scholas Employment/Training Program for Low-Income Workers

An employment and training program for low-income workers that focuses on a specific economic sector—information technology
UPDATED: Mar 21, 2022
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable increase in employment and earnings.
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Project QUEST

A workforce development program for low-income workers, to support them in training for well-paying careers in high-growth sectors of the local economy.
UPDATED: Mar 08, 2022
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in earnings, sustained over an 11 year follow-up period.
Read More

Canadian Self-Sufficiency Project

Earnings supplements for long-term welfare recipients who find full-time work and leave welfare
UPDATED: Oct 26, 2022
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable increase in participants’ employment rates, job earnings, and family income; and reductions in poverty and welfare dependency.
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Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)

A welfare-to-work program that combines mandatory participation in employment and training services with earnings supplements for welfare recipients who find work
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in employment and earnings, and reduction in poverty rates, for single-parent, long-term welfare recipients.
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Portland JOBS Training Program

A mandatory welfare-to-work program focused on moving welfare applicants and recipients quickly into the workforce
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable increase in employment rates and job earnings, reduction in welfare dependency, and savings to the government.
Read More

Riverside GAIN Program

A mandatory welfare-to-work program focused on moving welfare recipients quickly into the workforce
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable increase in employment rates and job earnings, reduction in welfare dependency, and savings to the government, especially for single parents.
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The Los Angeles Jobs-First Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) Program

A mandatory welfare-to-work program focused on moving welfare recipients quickly into the workforce
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable increase in employment rates and job earnings, reduction in welfare dependency, and savings to the government.
Read More

Housing / Homelessness

Critical Time Intervention

A case management program to prevent recurrent homelessness in people with severe mental illness
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable decrease in rates and duration of homelessness.
Read More

Health Care Financing / Delivery

The Transitional Care Model

A nurse-led hospital discharge and home follow-up program for chronically ill older adults
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show major reductions in rehospitalizations and health care costs.
Read More

Care Transitions Program

A low-cost hospital discharge and home follow-up program for elderly patients
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable reductions in rehospitalizations and health care costs.
Read More

Unplanned Pregnancy Prevention

Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program

A comprehensive, year-round youth development program for economically disadvantaged teens
UPDATED: Nov 20, 2017
Top Tier
Multi-site randomized controlled trial shows sizable reductions in teen pregnancy and births.
Read More

Nurse-Family Partnership

A nurse home visitation program for low-income, pregnant women
UPDATED: Jan 03, 2020
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show major impact on life outcomes of the mothers and their children.
Read More

Teen Options to Prevent Pregnancy

A program for low-income adolescent mothers that aims to reduce rapid repeat pregnancy and promote healthy birth spacing
UPDATED: Aug 19, 2024
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable reductions in the incidence of repeat pregnancies and births.
Read More

Health Care Program for First-Time Adolescent Mothers and their Infants

A health care program for first-time, teenage mothers that provides counseling on birth control and education on basic parenting and child health
UPDATED: Nov 21, 2017
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable reduction in subsequent teen pregnancies and increase in rate of child immunizations.
Read More

Treatment Foster Care Oregon

A foster care program for severely delinquent youths
UPDATED: Mar 06, 2023
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable reductions in youths’ criminal activity and (for girls) teen pregnancy.
Read More

Chronic Disease Prevention

Healthy Living Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes (HELP PD)

A community-based lifestyle weight-loss program for overweight or obese adults with prediabetes
UPDATED: Nov 21, 2017
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows effects on weight and other diabetes risk factors over two years.
Read More

Community Health Worker-Led Intervention to Control Blood Pressure

An 18-month multicomponent program to improve blood pressure control among low-income, uninsured patients with hypertension.
UPDATED: May 25, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable, statistically significant increase in the rate of controlled hypertension 18 months after random assignment.
Read More

Obesity Treatment through Behavioral Coaching

A community-based program for obese adults, delivered through primary care practices
UPDATED: Jan 12, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows meaningful weight loss sustained over a two-year period.
Read More

Substance Abuse Prevention / Treatment

LifeSkills Training

Middle-school substance abuse prevention program
UPDATED: Mar 02, 2018
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable decrease in students’ substance use over five to six years.
Read More

Staying Free Smoking Cessation Program

A low-cost smoking cessation program for hospitalized smokers who are willing to make a quit attempt
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Top Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable increase in confirmed abstinence from smoking one year after patient discharge from the hospital.
Read More

Multicomponent Smoking Cessation Program for Surgical Patients

A multicomponent program designed to encourage adults with an upcoming surgery to quit smoking
UPDATED: Jan 07, 2021
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable increase in confirmed abstinence from smoking one year after program entry.
Read More

PROSPER

Partnership between universities and community teams to implement evidence-based programs for youth substance abuse prevention
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows community-wide reductions in substance use over 6.5 years.
Read More

A Pregnant Woman’s Self-Help Guide to Quit Smoking

A low-cost smoking cessation program for pregnant smokers
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show a sizable increase in the quit rate during the last four to five months of pregnancy.
Read More

Big Brothers Big Sisters

A volunteer mentoring program for disadvantaged youth, ages 6-18
UPDATED: Jan 02, 2023
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable decrease in youths’ drug and alcohol use and violent behavior.
Read More

First-Grade Classroom Prevention Program

A program that combines a classroom management strategy – the Good Behavior Game – with an enhanced academic curriculum
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable reduction in substance use, and sizable increases in high school graduation and college enrollment rates.
Read More

Recovery Coaches

A program for substance-abusing parents who have temporarily lost custody of their children
UPDATED: Feb 09, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows an increase in family reunifications, reduction in active foster care cases, and net savings to the state.
Read More

Crime / Violence Prevention

Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) Sexual Assault Resistance Program

A sexual assault resistance program for first-year female university students
UPDATED: Jan 12, 2018
Top Tier
Multi-site randomized controlled trial shows a sizable reduction in the incidence of rape.
Read More

Parent Management Training – The Oregon Model

A parent training program for recently-separated, single mothers with boys aged 6-10
UPDATED: Jan 12, 2018
Near Top Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable decrease in criminal activity of the boys over nine years.
Read More

Big Brothers Big Sisters

A volunteer mentoring program for disadvantaged youth, ages 6-18
UPDATED: Jan 02, 2023
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable decrease in youths’ drug and alcohol use and violent behavior.
Read More

Montreal Prevention Program

A delinquency prevention program for disruptive elementary school boys
UPDATED: Jan 25, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable increase in high school graduation rates, and decrease in criminal behavior, in early adulthood.
Read More

Multisystemic Therapy

An intensive family- and community-based treatment program for youth with severe conduct problems.
UPDATED: Jul 22, 2020
Suggestive Tier
Several randomized controlled trials show sizable reductions in youth criminal activity; others do not.
Read More

Reading for Life

A mentoring and character-development program for first- or second-time juvenile offenders with nonviolent records
UPDATED: Feb 22, 2018
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows sizable reduction in re-arrest rates.
Read More

Treatment Foster Care Oregon

A foster care program for severely delinquent youths
UPDATED: Mar 06, 2023
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trials show sizable reductions in youths’ criminal activity and (for girls) teen pregnancy.
Read More

Suicide Prevention

Youth-Nominated Support Team-Version II

A psychoeducational, social support program for adolescents reporting a suicide attempt or suicidal thoughts
UPDATED: Apr 18, 2019
Suggestive Tier
Randomized controlled trial shows a sizable reduction in the all-cause mortality rate 11 to 14 years after study entry.
Read More

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