The notion of "best practice" is a highly popular concept in the healthcare arena. In light of that trend, information about best practices in various healthcare settings should be collated with a subsequent analysis of state-of-the-art practices in priority areas. Upon completing a quick Internet search on the words "public health and best practices," several hundred sites were listed. Two of the more relevant sties for family and community health were the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) "Best Practice" Initiative1 and a similar site in Canada-the Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centers.2 Currently, both organizations have an initiative requesting short reports be submitted (on-line) that highlight best practices that have been successful and have measurable outcomes in public health. Both organizations are striving to disseminate timely information that will foster an environment of learning, collaborating, and offering a benchmark for peers. Other reasons for disseminating "best practices" are to identify and prioritize areas in which the system needs to make the greatest improvement, influence the research agenda, and inform policy developers about models that are effective on the basis of outcome measures.

This issue of Family and Community Health (volume 29, issue 4) is another effort to disseminate information about best practices and the authors examine a range of topics and populations. Specifically, 2 articles focus on high-cost chronic health problems; Sprague et al report on goal setting for diabetes self-management after diabetes education and Major et al examine care of children with asthma in elementary schools. Two articles focus on the particular concerns of the elderly: Hanson and Emlet assess a community's elder friendliness, whereas Whisnant-Turner highlights weight status and participation in senior center activities. Two other articles examine high-risk health behaviors in children; specifically, Harper focuses on obesity, whereas Ahern and Keihl examine adolescent sexual health and practices. This issue of Family and Community Health includes 3 articles with international perspectives; Jump et al describe a program, using massage therapy and health outcomes among orphaned infants in Ecuador; Lee et al examine the effects of regular exercise on Koreans with rheumatoid arthritis; and Porr et al report on a health literacy program and health behaviors of low-income Canadian mothers. In conclusion, a guiding principle for identifying a "best practice" is that the model or activity facilitates achievement of optimal health outcomes or improves the efficacy of a system. It is hoped that the articles in this issue will be useful to the reader in achieving that end in practice, research, and policy focusing on families and communities.

Angeline Bushy, PhD, RN, FAAN

Issue Editor, Professor and Bert Fish, Chair School of Nursing, University of Central, Florida Daytona Beach

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