Logic Models
OJJDP asks applicants to develop and submit logic models to provide a graphic illustration of their project design and how the planned activities will lead to the desired results. A logic model explains the theory behind how a program or initiative works.
Logic Model Template: Available in PDF and Word
Logic Model Parts
The logic model template includes the following parts:
Desired Result: A precise statement defining what your program or initiative hopes to achieve. The result statement should reflect the purpose of the federal award and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's vision to support a nation where children are free from crime and violence and encounter a just and beneficial juvenile justice system.
Goals: Goals define how you know you have achieved your desired outcomes or the future condition your program or initiative hopes to achieve. The goals should align with your stated desired result and demonstrate how you intend to meet the purpose of the federal award. You may include an unlimited number of goals.
Inputs: Inputs describe the resources needed to implement a program or initiative's activities successfully.
Activities: Activities describe the actions needed to achieve a program or initiative's goals and objectives.
Outputs: Outputs identify what happens from a program or initiative's intended activity. Outputs are generally represented as a number, such as the number of people trained.
Outcomes: Outcomes describe the results of an activity, program, or initiative.
Short-term Outcomes: Short-term outcomes reflect the immediate result of an activity, such as a change in knowledge or a change in practice.
Intermediate Outcomes: Intermediate outcomes reflect the result that occurs after achieving the short-term outcome, such as a change in behavior or implementation of a new system.
Long-term Outcomes: Long-term outcomes demonstrate the ultimate change in a population or system the activity, program, or initiative hopes to achieve, such as decreased youth recidivism or decreased child victimization.
Why Create a Logic Model?
Logic models offer the following benefits:
- Clearly identify the program or initiative's goals, objectives, activities, and desired results.
- Clarify assumptions and relationships between the program or initiative's efforts and expected outcomes.
- Communicate key elements of the program or initiative.
- Identify what to focus on in a program or initiative evaluation.
- Guide assessment of underlying project assumptions and promotes self-correction.
Data Collection Methods
To report performance measure data requires a data collection, tracking, and reporting system. Performance measures reflect system, program, activity, and individual-level data.
Data Collection
Data collection systems should focus on:
- Sharing data across systems and organizations.
- Gathering information on individuals served.
Sharing data across systems and organizations requires a formal agreement or partnership to respect and adhere to data privacy laws. Examples include setting up memorandums of agreements, using parental consent forms, or applying court orders. Jurisdictions may also share data collection systems.
Individual-level data can come from professional or practitioner expertise or judgment; or self-reported by individuals or their legal representative through pre- and post-assessments, surveys, exit interviews, and follow-up communication using various methods (i.e., in-person, telephone, text message).
Data Tracking
Data can be tracked in a formal data collection system, case management system, a spread sheet, or on the OJJDP Performance Measure grids.
Data Reported
Data needs to be aggregated across the reporting period and reported across individuals served, and not per individual, to protect identities.
The data reported needs to match the definitions and data requested for each performance measure.