Client participation in CMHC program evaluation: increasing incidence, inadequate involvement.

Client satisfaction surveys and client complaint systems are used by more CMHCs since the Amendments of 1975 required centers to evaluate "acceptability of service," but clients are seldom actively involved in designing or administering these evaluations. The authors argue that greater control by clients is merited on technical and political grounds, and would increase the likelihood that program improvements would result from assessments of acceptability.