This Week You Will Develop A Logic Model That Clearly Depict

This Week You Will Develop A Logic Model That Clearly Depicts What You

This week you will develop a Logic Model that clearly depicts what your project intends to do or accomplish. Your logic model should be a one-page simple visual similar to the examples presented in the resources below: Pell Institute: Using a Logic Model Toolkit and Example, CDC: Components of a Logic Model and Example. Logic models are used to "present and share your understanding of the relationships among the resources you have to operate your program, the activities you plan, and the changes or results you hope to achieve." (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2004). You will be presenting your problem to a foundation or coalition and proposing ways it can be addressed. A logic is a great way to show the connections between the different sections of your presentation/project.

Your logic model should include the following sections:

  • Inputs: Identify the resources needed to implement the intervention.
  • Activities: Identify actions that will be used to achieve the intended results. (Proposed interventions from Week 4)
  • Outputs: Identify the direct results of intervention activities. Link the activities you propose to your affected population. What did your activity actually produce?
  • Outcomes: Identify the change that occurs between the inputs and the outputs. The immediate changes that occurred in participants.
  • Impact: Identify the longer-term or systematic change that will occur as a result. Please reference the CDC and Pell Institute resources above for more information on the different sections of a logic model.

Rubric

  • Exemplary Inputs: Identifies the resources needed to implement the intervention
  • Activities: Identifies actions that will be used to achieve the intended results
  • Outputs: Identifies program goals and who the activities will reach
  • Outcomes: Identifies the short-term results of the activity, in other words, the change that occurred between the inputs and the outcomes.
  • Impact: Identifies the longer-term or systematic change that will occur as a result

Logic Model Flow

Logic model flows appropriately and smoothly so that if...then statements can be inserted between logic model categories. For example, if these resources were present then these activities could occur. If these activities occur then these outputs will result. If these outputs result then these outcomes will happen. If these outcomes happen then this impact will be made.

Paper For Above instruction

A logic model is an essential visualization tool in program planning and evaluation, providing clarity on the relationships between resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Developing an effective logic model allows stakeholders to understand how specific inputs lead to desired changes, facilitating strategic planning and communication with funders or partners.

To begin creating the logic model, it is vital to identify the critical inputs required for the intervention. Inputs include resources such as financial funding, personnel, facilities, equipment, and materials necessary to run the program. For example, if the intervention focuses on reducing childhood obesity, inputs might include health educators, food resources, physical activity facilities, educational materials, and community partnerships.

Next, the Activities component outlines the specific actions or interventions designed to produce change. Continuing with the childhood obesity example, activities could include nutrition workshops, physical activity sessions, community outreach campaigns, and health screenings. These actions are deliberate steps taken to address the identified problem and intended to stimulate the desired outputs and outcomes.

The Outputs section links the activities to tangible results. It specifies what directly results from executing the activities and who will be affected. For instance, outputs might include the number of participants who attend workshops, the dissemination of educational materials, or the number of health screenings conducted. These outputs serve as measurable indicators of activity implementation and reach within the target population.

Outcomes describe the immediate changes that occur following the outputs. They are short-term effects on participants or the community, such as increased knowledge about healthy eating, improved attitudes towards physical activity, or initial behavior changes regarding nutrition and exercise. These outcomes are pivotal as they indicate the program's early effectiveness in producing the desired change.

The Impact, which is the long-term or systemic change, reflects the ultimate goals of the program. Continuing the example, impact might include sustained healthy behaviors, decreased childhood obesity rates, improved community health metrics, and shifts in local policies supporting health promotion. These effects demonstrate the enduring success of the intervention and its contribution to broader health indicators.

Ensuring that the logic model flows logically enhances its clarity and utility. If resources are available, then activities can be implemented; if activities are executed, then outputs will be produced; if outputs are achieved, then outcomes are likely to follow; and if outcomes are realized, then the broader impact can be expected. This sequential structure allows stakeholders to see the cause-and-effect relationships, facilitating strategic planning, resource allocation, and evaluation.

In practice, a well-constructed logic model functions as both a planning tool and a communication device. It helps teams align on objectives, monitor progress, and make data-driven adjustments. Moreover, it simplifies complex program components into an accessible visual summary, which is particularly useful when presenting to foundations or coalitions interested in understanding how their support can lead to meaningful change.

In conclusion, developing a comprehensive logic model involves systematically identifying resources, planning targeted activities, delineating expected outputs, short-term outcomes, and long-term impacts. It embodies a structured approach that clarifies the pathways through which public health interventions can achieve sustained improvements, ensuring transparency, accountability, and strategic focus in program implementation.

References

  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation. (2004). Logic Model Development Guide. W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
  • CDC. (2011). Developing a Logic Model. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/Sourcebook_Ch3.pdf
  • Funnell, S. C., & Rogers, P. J. (2011). Purposeful Program Theory: Effective Use of Theories of Change and Logic Models. John Wiley & Sons.
  • McLaughlin, J. A., & Jordan, L. (1999). Logic models: a tool for telling your program's performance story. Evaluation and Program Planning, 22(1), 65-72.
  • Bryson, J. M. (2018). Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Weiss, C. H. (1995). Nothing as Practical as Good Theory: Exploring Theory-Based Evaluation for Comprehensive Community Initiatives for Children and Families. New Approaches to Evaluating Community Initiatives, 65-92.
  • Oakley, P., & Garrett, P. (2001). Understanding and controlling change: a guide for community development workers. Community Development Journal, 36(4), 391–407.
  • Patton, M. Q. (2008). Utilization-Focused Evaluation. Sage Publications.
  • Renger, R., & Mattson, M. (2001). Evaluability assessment: A tool for improving program planning and evaluation. Evaluation and Program Planning, 24(3), 263-272.
  • Merriam, S. B. (2009). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. Jossey-Bass.

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