Wake County SmartStart Logic Model Training

1. Wake County SmartStartLogic Model Training May 2013

2. What we will do today: • Background-why use logic models • Elements of WCSS logic model • Practical examples • Opportunity to ask specific individual questions for your application

3. What is a logic model? “… (logic) model provides a roadmap of your program, highlighting how it is expected to work, what activities need to come before others, and how desired outcomes are achieved.” W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook www.wkkf.org

4. Why use logic models? • Theory of Change • Helps keep the end in mind • Logic model format we use based on NCPC version

5. Benefits of using Logic Models • Identify gaps in your theory, think through your program, how the parts work together • Connections between actions & results • Evaluation built in, what to measure & how • Useful with other funders

6. How WCSS uses logic model • Staff and Allocation Committee use to understand your program • Why it is needed • How much service you will provide • What you will accomplish • Forms basis for evaluation plan if funded

7. 6 Sections of the logic model • Need Statement • Target Population • Program or Activity Elements • Outputs • Outcomes • How does the outcome Impact a Board identified or other community indicator?

8. The Logic Model “Statement” • If this condition exists for this population and we implement these strategies this many times for these individuals we expect this short-term change and we expect this outcome to impact the overall county.

9. Need Statement: Include • Local need program would address • Numbers and percents • Underlying causes of problem • Why current resources do not meet the need • Target population with most critical need for services

11. Target Population • Consistent with model / best practice • Specifically who will be eligible for services • Characteristics of eligible participants • Can have more than 1 target population • Greatest Need

12. Target population continued

13. Program or Activity Elements • Most significant strategies / activity components of model / best practice • Intensity of services, how much service required to make a change • Figuring out which elements are most important to include

14. How many elements should I include? • Depends on the model / best practice • Most critical to impacting selected Indicator • Core to the service you will provide and what you hope to achieve

15. Program Elements

16. Outputs • Based on model / best practice • Related to caseload size • Consistent with intensity & budget • Population counts • Service counts (elements)

17. Outputs Continued

18. Outcomes • Links to / affects selected Indicator • Model / research shows what is likely impact if certain activities are performed • Each target population should have at least one related outcome

19. Outcomes continued • Fewer strong outcomes are better than a whole lot of so-so or weak ones • Changes in behavior/knowledge/status by end of fiscal year (June 30, 2012) • Measurement tools / data sources

20. Outcomes Continued

21. How many outputs and outcomes should I include? • Good, manageable rule of thumb: 3-5 outputs and 3-5 outcomes • At least 1 population output • At least 1 service output

22. How does the outcome impact a Board identified or other community indicator? • Ultimate purpose for the activity • Should include anticipated impact on indicators identified on top of Application • Logical connection between program outcome and indicator impact

23. How does the outcome impact a Board identified or other community indicator? …continued • General change identified (e.g. “increase”);no numbers necessary • No time frame necessary

25. Practical Examples • Goal Areas: • Children are Safe, Healthy and Live in Supportive Environments • Quality Child Care is Accessible and Available • These are examples and do not use real numbers in estimates

26. Questions and Advice • Feel free to contact us with questions

27. Who to contact with questions • Anna Troutman: atroutman@wakesmartstart.org