THE TOPIC OF THE CONFERENCE WAS 'SYSTEMS APPROACH TO PROGRAM EVALUATION.' THE PAPERS DEAL PRIMARILY WITH THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES OF EVALUATION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS. THE STEP-BY-STEP DEVELOPMENT OF EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND ASSOCIATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR PARTICULAR PROJECTS ARE DISCUSSED. PROGRAM AND CLINICAL MODELS ARE DESCRIBED FOR THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF PROGRAMS: ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT, PSYCHIATRIC WARD SERVICES, A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR PROBLEM JUVENILES, A MENTAL HEALTH CENTER FOR CHILDREN, A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, AND A PROGRAM FOR PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS OF JUVENILES. INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EVALUATION MODELS ARE DESCRIBED FOR INPATIENT MONITORING, A PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE OF A JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT, PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT SERVICES, AND FOR FEEDBACK AND EVALUATION IN A MENTAL HEALTH SETTING. SAMPLES OF THE FORMS USED IN SPECIFIC EVALUATION AND INFORMATION-GATHERING PROCEDURES ARE PROVIDED. THE SECTION ON CONFERENCE EVALUATION PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS TABULATED BY THEIR LOCATION, WORK SETTING, JOB TYPE, AND ACADEMIC BACKGROUND. THEIR GENERAL REASONS FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE ARE ALSO INDICATED. PARTICIPANT OPINIONS ABOUT THE CONFERENCE ARE PROVIDED, AND SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR NEXT YEAR'S CONFERENCE ARE LISTED. FOR SELECTED READINGS, SEE NCJ 50643-50652. (RCB)