Childcare Center logic model

Click on any linked activities to view samples of related research evidence. Click on linked outcomes to view sources of data for measuring outcomes and question wording examples to collect your own outcome data. If you're using a mouse, hover over linked items to highlight any evidence related items. Use the entire model as a map for understanding how the work of community development and health organizations collaboratively leads to improved community health.

 

Inputs
Community plans
Evidence-based practice literature
Location, site
Source of funds
Staffing
Activities
Childcare subsidy for low-income families
Childcare, early care and education programming
Employment of high quality, trained caregivers
Financing childcare centers in underserved neighborhoods
Financing for infrastructure that promotes physical activity and mental health (e.g., green space, playground equipment, community recreation facilities, walking path/trails, community gardens, sidewalks, swimming pools)
Healthy meals and snacks
Learning activities that promote school readiness
Use of building materials that reduce asthma problems (e.g. wood flooring, washable window treatments, HEPA heating and ventilation system, low VOC and lead-free paints)
Outputs
Childcare slots (number of)
Children who participate in high quality learning activities (number of)
Community garden users/pounds of vegetables produced (number of)
Dollars invested (amount of)
Healthy meals/snacks served (number of)
Jobs created/retained as a result of financing or programming (number of)
Low-income households with increased access to affordable childcare (number of) and percent low-income
Playground equipment/recreation room/green space users (number of)
Rooms with building materials known to reduce asthma symptoms (number of)
Walking path users/path miles (number of)
Initial
outcomes
Asthma trigger exposure decreases
Better quality educational programs
Opportunities for physical activity increase
Proximity to affordable, stable, high-quality childcare increases
Intermediate
outcomes
Asthma problems among children decrease
Caregiving burden decreases
Childcare cost burden decreases
Cognitive ability of children increases
Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables increases
Crime rate decreases
Delinquent behaviors of children decrease
Food security increases
Health and well-being self-reports improve
Identification of social, physical, and learning problems occurs earlier
Language and literacy skills improve
Physical activity increases
Reduced sweetened beverage consumption
Social-emotional skills of children improve
Stress decreases
Ultimate
outcomes
Academic proficiency scores increase
Graduation rate increases
Health disparities decrease
Household income increases
Life expectancy increases
Mental health problems decrease
Obesity rate decreases
School readiness improves

About this logic model

This example logic model provides a menu of typical inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes for community development and health organizations that work in the Childcare Center field.

The activities listed in this example logic model link, whenever possible, to examples of research literature providing evidence that a specific activity leads to a health-related outcome included in the logic model. The outcomes link, whenever possible, to measures already collected through existing data sources and to measures that might require users to collect their own data through a survey, or other means. Click on these linked items to view the related evidence or measures.

Influence on social determinants of health:

Childcare centers built in underserved communities provide space for licensed programs to deliver affordable, high quality care to low-income infant, pre-school age, and school age children.

These sites can play an important role in developing the health of young children through building design elements, programs and policies.

New/rehabbed childcare center buildings can also serve as catalysts for other economic development.