Other Resources

There are many avenues to find evidence of effectiveness. This page highlights several websites we consider in our review and assessment of evidence. To learn about more strategies that can work for your community, you may find it helpful to look at some of these sites in addition to What Works for Health.

Systematic Review Resources

Systematic reviews are considered the gold standard of evidence. These websites provide systematic reviews for various content areas:

• The Campbell Collaboration Library of Systematic Reviews
• The Cochrane Library
• The Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide)
• healthevidence.org
• Health Systems Evidence

Rating Organizations and Evidence Clearinghouses

Many government and private organizations assess the effectiveness of policies and programs and assign evidence ratings. Organizations focus on a variety of topics; each has its own criteria to assess and rate evidence of effectiveness, and its own rating 'labels'. Examples include:

• AHRQ Evidence-Based Reports Center
• Best Evidence Encyclopedia
• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development
• The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC)
• Public Health Law Research (PHLR)
• What Works Clearinghouse

Published and Grey Literature

Studies published in academic journals or through government or private entities can also provide information on evidence of effectiveness. Examples of organizations that produce relevant studies include:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• The Commonwealth Fund
• Mathematica Policy Research
• MDRC
• The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
• RAND Corporation
• Urban Institute
• US Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Library (PubAg)
• Violence Prevention Evidence Base and Resources