Introduction
This section covers a specific exercise, the application of
a logic model, as part of the program planning process. A logic model is a
diagram that depicts a commonsense understanding of how and why each
prevention activity will lead to the stated goal. “It presents a ‘sequence
of plausible intentions,’ - from specific program and policy-related
activities through immediate outcomes to intermediate outcomes to long-term
outcomes to impacts. Because it lays out all the steps that are expected to
occur in this sequence, it serves as an easy-to-follow program plan.” [This
quote is taken from the writings of Linda Langford, Associate Director of
the Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Other Drug and Violence
Prevention.] In other words:
A logic model is a
diagram (map) linking selected prevention activities (informed by the needs
assessment/problem analysis data and best practices research) to immediate,
short term and long-term outcomes (anticipated changes resulting directly
from implemented activities), to the achievement of specified impacts
(overall, sustainable goals) in a logical sequence of plausible intentions.
In the previous section, we discussed overall program
planning. The steps included 1) conducting a needs assessment/problem
analysis to identify specific problems; 2) prioritizing identified problems
in preparation for strategic planning; 3) consulting research literature for
best practices and model programs; 4) generating a list of
strategies/activities for each identified problem; 5) listing the outcomes
you anticipate from the implementation of each strategy/activity; and 6)
designing an evaluation plan to gather data on outcome indicators. A good
time to construct a logic model is after activities have been tentatively
selected and before they have been implemented – between steps 5 and 6 as
listed above. This can serve to make explicit how each of the selected
initiatives will lead to the ultimate program goals.
The benefits of participating in the logic model exercise
with your prevention task force or coalition and your prevention staff
include:
The
information presented in this section comes from the Western Center for the
Application of Prevention Technologies (Western CAPT), the Higher Education
Center for Alcohol, Other Drug and Violence Prevention (HEC) and the Idaho
State Department of Health and Welfare. I strongly suggest you read the
section on program evaluation, which includes discussion and examples of
logic models.
After completing this lesson you should understand / be
able to
