Client participation is a central value of social work, and it is generally assumed that inter
vention involving clients will be more effective than that in which they are not involved. This
article presents a study in which this assumption was tested empirically by questioning 200
senior workers in Israeli community centers as to the techniques of client participation they used
in their work and the outputs in their centers. The assumption that client participation leads to
effectiveness, at least in community social work, seems to be supported and suggests that
community center staff should be trained and motivated toward working with their clients.
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