Using a Logic Model to Plan and Evaluate a Community Intervention Program: A Case Study

Abstract

This case study uses a logic model to plan and evaluate an intervention project targeted to high-risk, middle-school, African-American youth for drug and crime prevention. Project WISE-UP is a comprehensive and innovative program designed to reduce the risk of using drugs and alcohol and becoming involved in criminal activities for thirty-seven high-risk middle-school students in Florida. The project comprises a continuum of integrated, interactive activities which were dominant components of the students' environment, community, school, peer group, and family. The WISE-UP educational module consists of five sub-modules: crime prevention, drug education, leisure education, life skills building (decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution), and a tutorial program. The logic model is used to provide explanation, justifications for selecting various programmatic components and evaluation measures. It consists of five components: assumptions, program activities, immediate outcomes/evaluative activities, intermediate outcomes/objectives, and final outcomes/goals. Results of preliminary data demonstrated the logical progression of the project's effects and supported the usefulness of the logic model in planning and evaluating a prevention program.