A logic model is a widely used tool in assessing public policies and programs. T

A logic model is a widely used tool in assessing public policies and programs. This assignment assists student KSA development in terms of producing an original logic model, including analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of a real-world policy or program’s design and application. The assignment relates to concepts and issues covered in Modules 1 and 2 of the course and assists students in learning how to identify and assess causal relationships, as well as helping develop basic research and policy analysis skills. Finally, the assignment helps continued improvement in written communication skills as well permitting students to improved subject area knowledge about a program or policy relevant to their career interests.
As is discussed in the Module 2, Lecture Part A video, the choice of policy or program area is open. A helpful way to think of your choice of policy or program topic is to select an area that you would like to learn more about — or improve your current understanding. For instance, you might choice FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMPG) because you would like to examine how a local government functions within that funding framework. Or you might choose a much broader policy area (e.g. the National Flood Insurance Program) that is well-established, or a newer domain (e.g. U.S. national cybersecurity strategy) to evaluate past or potential performance of those policies or strategies. Or, as you might have noticed that about one week ago the Biden Administration released the 2022 National Biodefense Strategy. If you have an interest in biodefense / biosecurity issues, you could go through that document and assess the underlying logic of the strategy – and provide your characterization through the short report paper you will produce.
Bottom line: choose something of value to your own subject area knowledge development — whatever level of government, policy domain, or organization type might be responsible for the policy or program effort.
This assignment asks students to select any emergency or disaster management or homeland security-related program or a policy administered by a public agency at any level of government. The student will present an assessment of the underlying causal logic—explaining how the program or policy is intended to function and how it yields specific outputs and outcomes. To do so, the student should provide a short logic model description, including a graphic representation, of the selected program or policy implementation effort, and an assessment of efficacy in practice.
In terms of assignment details: the student’s task for this assignment is to provide a description of how a policy or program operates in practice. Please note: the paper should include a graphical representation of program operations or policy elements as this is a basic feature of any logic model presentation.
In terms of substance and structure: the paper should provide a very short background on the public sector agency selected, coupled with an overview of the policy or program being assessed. The paper then should provide a logic model depiction of the policy or program, and guide the reader through an explanation of its “inputs,” “activities,” and “outcomes” elements. (The unit readings and lecture materials will provide further guidance on logic models as an analytic tool.) The paper should characterize how these elements interact and function in terms of producing observable outcomes (either or both short or long-term outcomes, depending on the particulars of the program/policy being observed). The paper should conclude with a brief analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the efficacy of the design and functioning of the policy or program’s internal logic. In sum: select a policy or program of interest to you, research the basic operational elements and purpose, provide a short background on the organization and program, present the logic model (including a standard graphical representation of operational elements), and then assess, briefly, what you see as the strengths or weaknesses of the program’s operating logic in practice.