THIS VOLUME IS INDICATED TO BE A DIRECT RESULT OF COURSES ON EVALUATION PRESENTED AT THE STAFF COLLEGE, AN UNDERTAKING BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR STAFF MEMBERS OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER PROGRAMS RECEIVING PUBLIC FUNDS. IT WILL CONSTITUTE THE TEXT FOR FUTURE COURSES IN EVALUATION. THE MATERIALS PRESENTED HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR CURRENCY, REPRESENTATIVENESS, AND RELEVANCE TO THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CMHC SETTING. ORGANIZED TO REFLECT THE MAJOR METHODOLOGIES ESSENTIAL FOR AN INTEGRATED CMHC EVALUATION SYSTEM, THE BOOK COVERS SUCH TOPICS AS ESTABLISHING AN OVERALL EVALUATION STRATEGY, CATCHMENT AREA NEEDS ASSESSMENT, DESIGNING AND USING INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN CMHC EVALUATION, MEASURING PROGRAM OUTCOMES, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS. WHILE FOCUSING ON EVALUATION PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, THE CONTRIBUTORS DISCUSS THE CONCEPTUAL UNDERPINNINGS OF EVALUATION, ITS IMPACT ON PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND DECISIONMAKING, AND THE RANGE OF APPROACHES AVAILABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS. THE APPENDIX IS COMPOSED OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION IN CMHC'S. (RCB)