A MODEL MIS IS A SET OF DATA, INPUT FORMS, PROCESSING PROCEDURES, AND REPORTS SUPPORTING DECISIONMAKING IN ALL MANAGEMENT PHASES. BASIC MODULES DESCRIBED OF A MODEL MIS ARE PROGRAM PLANNING, CLIENT TREATMENT, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND REPORTING AND EVALUATION (TO SUPPORT THE OTHER THREE MODULES). THE METHODS COMMON DRUG TREATMENT CENTER ACTIVITIES USE, SUCH AS ADMITTING OR TREATING CLIENTS, TO GENERATE DATA WITHIN EACH MODULE IS SHOWN. AN MIS IS DEVELOPED IN FOUR STEPS: (1) IDENTIFY MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NEEDS, (2) DEVELOP CONSISTENT AND COMPATIBLE DEFINITIONS FOR DATA COLLECTION, (3) DESIGN FORMS FOR DATA INPUT AND DISPLAY, AND (4) DETERMINE THE MOST EFFICIENT FLOW OF INFORMATION. EXCESSIVE DATA COLLECTION IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED, ALTHOUGH DETERMINING EXACT INFORMATION NEEDS IS DIFFICULT. THE INFORMATION CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (ICS) WILL ASSURE THAT THE FOUR MODULES, ACTING INDEPENDENTLY, SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE ABOUT DATA. STAFF, RESOURCE, CLIENT, FINANCIAL, AND OTHER DATA TO BE INCLUDED IN ICS CATEGORIES ARE DESCRIBED. TO DEVELOP AN MIS, PROGRAM OBJECTIVES SHOULD BE STATED AS AMOUNTS OR NUMBERS AND BE MEASURABLE ITEMS. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS, SUPPORT OBJECTIVES, SERVICE USE, TYPES OF RESOURCES TO BE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM, AND BUDGETING WITH THE SYSTEM. CHARTS AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)