Recorded presentation

Ruth A O'Brien, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, C-288, Denver, CO 80262, 303-315-4234, Ruth.Obrien@uchsc.edu

Designing effective programs requires a careful, detailed thought process that begins with understanding a social problem and ends with analyzing data on effectiveness. Although all programs have reasons for what they do and how they do it, these are not always explicitly stated or linked to expected outcomes of the program. The failure to connect different program activities to outcome goals of the program can result in evaluations that are unrealistically positive, inaccurately negative, or inconclusive. A logic model provides a framework to clearly outline a program’s “theory of change,” that is, why a program is providing a certain set of services to a particular population and the intended impact of those services. The articulation of a program’s theory of change helps program staff and families stay focused on the long-term outcome goals rather than just focusing on program activities and services. Approaches to the development of a logic model will be discussed, using examples drawn from the logic model for the Nurse Family Partnership, a home visitation program for low-income families with visits beginning in pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday. Development of process and outcome measures for evaluating program implementation using the illustrated logic model also will be presented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the processes involved in developing a logic model for a program.
• Identify how a logic model provides direction to the development of process measures for monitoring the integrity of program implementation.
• Analyze the linkage between process and outcome measures in the context of a program's theory of change.

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Home Visiting

Related Web page: www.nccfc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Director of Evaluation, Nurse Family Partnership

Recorded presentation