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You Can't Measure Impact Using Your Grandmother's Logic Model, Introducing the New "PROGRESSIVE OUTCOMES SCALE (POS) LOGIC MODEL" Approach

Tuesday, 05 April 2022 10:00 PM

DETROIT, MI / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2022 / Humanistic Care®, a minority owned organization based in Michigan, has designed a simple, yet powerful logic model progression strategy to help nonprofits and governments develop a set of common key performance indicators and demonstrate their outcomes for marginalized communities more effectively. You will not likely find mention of this logic model in academic textbooks or college courses, but you will find it increasing in use by evaluators, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations across the country. The creators of this extraordinary model are the founders of Humanistic Care®, husband and wife duo Omar and Quisha Brown. Both have experienced the day-to-day challenges of growing up in poverty. Additionally, they are both now college graduates. Omar, with an MBA from Wayne State University and Quisha, with a Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University. They also have over 25 years of combined professional experience working in community programs which serve marginalized people.

The idea for this logic model strategy came from their on-the-ground interactions with ordinary families living in marginalized communities; in the process of their work, they uncovered major contributing factors leading to the inability of nonprofits to demonstrate strong outcomes using data. The number one contributing factor being a failure to identify targeted and measurable community problems, which by the way happens to be the main focus of the Progressive Outcomes Scale Logic Model approach. A sample logic model which was designed specifically for housing organizations is available for free download and view here on their website. Another attractive feature of the POS logic model is how easily the format can be adapted to any industry (i.e. housing, health, employment, early childhood, etc).

"In our advocacy to improve the evaluation of programs serving marginalized communities we've noticed that there are some [organizations] that are open to innovation, and then there are others who are academic snobs about the work. If it's not something evidence or research based, they won't try it. In other words if it isn't published by who they believe to be gurus, then they balk at it and that is unfortunate especially to the people that they are funded to serve," says CEO of Humanistic Care® Omar Brown.

"Although this model is different in many ways from the traditional style logic model, it does have a few familiar components such as outcomes and outputs," according to Quisha. In addition to running Humanistic Care® with her husband, Quisha is also the Author of Racial Equity Lens Logic Model & Theory of Change, a practical guidebook which describes the entire Progressive Outcomes Scale Logic Model process step by step from start to finish. It's a 68-page guidebook, with a clear layout and descriptions which are applicable to multiple industries as well as easy to adapt and follow. If anyone is looking to address equity issues and needs a solid framework, this guidebook is definitely a valuable resource according to reviews posted on Amazon.

Humanistic Care, LLC, Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Press release picture

So, what are the major differences between the POS Logic Model and the traditional (Grandmother Logic Model)?

Traditional Logic Model

POS Logic Model

Built on the belief that the world is a place of clear
causal relationships.
Enables you to customize the Key Performance Indicators to fit the uniquely identified needs of the community served.
Usually complicated and hard to understand. Clearly displays the progress of an organization's work in "Stages" which are clearly defined by their list of pre-identified indicators, so everyone always knows what comes next.
Not very useful during the actual evaluation of a program. Clearly displays the indicators to be evaluated at each "Stage" and offers an opportunity for the organization to begin building out a narrative of outcomes using both qualitative & quantitative data.
Often restricts rather than expanding thoughts
about solutions.
Provides plenty of opportunity for collaborative discussion of strategies which may or may not be working to help meet organizational or program goals.
Is not action oriented. Every indicator within the POS Logic Model requires some sort of action on the part of the organization; without action the indicator will not be achieved.
Is not culturally responsive. The POS logic model process provides ample opportunity to engage and include the input of the people served within the actual logic model.
Often fails to account for the complex connection between programs and communities. Is 100% informed by the community needs assessment which creates an ideal connection between programs and communities.

According to it's website Humanistic Care® offers culturally responsive solutions to help organizations uncover and target their interventions to the underlying issues of racial wealth inequities. To reach Humanistic Care® email [email protected]

SOURCE: Humanistic Care®, LLC

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