Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network works to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military and veteran populations exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers. Read more about us.

National Logic Model Summary

Creative Forces® uses two logic models to guide its Community Engagement program. The first model, explained below, was created for the national grant program. This logic model helps guide the overall national program and ensures its aims, goals, and implementation strategies are clear.

The second logic model is a template for grant recipients.

(External link) You can view the Grantee Logic Model Summary here (External link) To learn more about logic models and their benefits, check out our resource “What is a Logic Model?”

National grant program goal

The primary aim of the National Creative Forces® Community Engagement grant program is to enhance the health, well-being, and quality of life for military-connected individuals who have experienced trauma. The program achieves this by funding arts initiatives that encourage creativity, build social connections, improve resilience, and help smooth the transition to civilian life.

National grant program inputs, activities, and outputs

Creative Forces administers grants and provides technical support for grantees. The initiative also collects data to enhance learning and improve support. Creative Forces evaluates project implementation, outcomes, and effectiveness.

National grant program inputs include:

  • funding
  • grants administration
  • technical assistance
  • grantee contributions such as final reports, findings from data collection efforts, narratives/stories, and contributions to the broader community of practice/field-building
  • monitoring and evaluation tools
  • existing research

National grant program activities include:

  • providing grants for community arts projects that improve the health and well-being of military service members, veterans, families, and caregivers 
  • supporting project implementation
  • monitoring and evaluating the grant program
  • sharing knowledge to support military populations through the arts

National grant program outputs include:

  • awarding annual funds
  • technical assistance
  • monitoring and evaluation reports
  • learning activities

National grant program impacts and outcomes

National grant program impacts

Program participants show improvements in creative expression, social connections, and resilience. They can also gain independence and successfully adapt to civilian life. Grant recipients form stronger networks and better understand the value of the arts to support health and well-being for military-connected populations.

National grant program outcomes

There are three types of outcomes for the national program:

1. Grantee Outcomes

  • Grant recipients partner with other organizations—such as veteran or military-serving organizations—to strengthen their programs for military-connected populations.
  • Grant recipients increase their organizational capacity to design, deliver, evaluate, and sustain programs to support military-connected populations through the arts.
  • Grant projects increase understanding for grant recipients, partners, networks, and local communities of how arts engagement can benefit military-connected populations.

2. Monitoring and Evaluation Outcomes

  • Program monitoring and evaluation guide improvements and contribute to learning about the role the arts can play in contributing to the health and well-being of military-connected populations.

3. Learning Outcomes

  • Evidence shows how community arts participation benefits military-connected populations. Knowledge and resources grow through a learning community, advancing the field and supporting community arts engagement.
  • Agencies, organizations, funders, and policymakers understand the importance of community arts engagement for military-connected populations.

Rationale

  • There is a need to show how programs for military-connected people improve health and well-being. Research shows that community arts programs have positive effects on participants. Feedback from Creative Forces’ pilot data collection efforts and observations from project impact narratives indicates positive results from participation.
  • Building strong partnerships among key groups—such as program participants, arts organizations, and military service providers—ensures that valuable lessons are learned and best practices are shared.
  • Improving program logic models and evaluations supports program quality and participant outcomes. The ability to replicate programs is also easier.
  • A national program that includes clinical and community partners can achieve greater impacts for participants.

National grant program assumptions and external factors

This logic model relies on these assumptions and external factors: 

  • Arts, community, and military organizations will invest in partnerships.
  • Grant recipients and their partners will form a learning community.
  • Military-connected populations have an interest in and will benefit from community arts engagement.