Using a Logic Model to Enhance Community Coalition Activities to Address Safety for Children as Pedestrians in an Urban Setting

Background: The Pedestrian Injury Prevention Partnership (PIPP) is a broad based coalition that includes public health professionals, law enforcement (LE), school representatives, local governmental, advocacy and insurance agencies in Newark, NJ. This coalition was developed in response to the number of deaths and serious injuries among children struck by cars in Newark. The group's goal is to address pediatric pedestrian safety. We hypothesized that the development and use of a logic model would be an effective strategy to maximize stakeholder input and produce measureable outcomes that address the coalition's goal.

Methods: Through support provided by APHA's Public Health Traffic Safety Institute, members of the PIPP prepared the initial logic model. The logic model is updated quarterly by coalition members.

Results: A three page logic model was developed around the facilities offered by coalition members and engineering, education, enforcement and evaluation input activities. The following activities, short-term outcomes and inputs have been documented: the use of hotspot mapping for targeted LE; installation of WALK signs and “streetscaping'; placement of red-light cameras; the receipt of targeted grant dollars by the City of Newark for school and infrastructure improvement; an 8-fold increase in the number of students instructed in pedestrian safety; and a 23% increase in school crossing guards.

Conclusions: Logic modeling can serve as a useful framework to identify and develop common goals and processes which produce measurable outcomes. The logic model should be a “living” document so that new members and activities can be added as the coalition evolves.