OPEN SYSTEMS EVALUATION AND THE LOGIC MODEL - PROGRAM-PLANNING AND EVALUATION TOOLS

This paper describes two case management projects and efforts to evalu ate outcomes. Lessons learned from the first effort suggest that a too l referred to as the logic model and a particular approach to evaluati on called the ''open systems'' model might be useful to planners and p rogram evaluators. The logic model provides a means of presenting cond itions a program is intended to address, activities that constitute a program, short term outcomes resulting from program activities and lon g term impacts. The open systems perspective emphasizes evaluation as a tool to be used to achieve program objectives as opposed to establis hing cause and effect relationships. This paper also describes how rit e logic model and open systems evaluation were used to facilitate the development of an evaluation plan for a project designed to assist hom eless, substance abusing, pregnant women.