ABSTRACT
KEYWORDS. Interdisciplinary, collaboration, inter-organizational, community development, Israel, USA
INTRODUCTION
The field of professional community work around the world has evolved during the last century differently in different countries (Campfens, 1997). The disciplines claiming competence in this arena include both academic and applied social and health sciences such as sociology, public health, social work, urban, rural and regional planning, community psychology, anthropology, political science, public interest law, adult and informal education, economics, public policy, and others. The terms used for this practice vary. Various disciplines use terms such as community organization, community work, community psychology, community practice, community development, community planning, community economic
development, and community building to refer to development-based work with communities. Nonetheless, these general career paths have similar purposes: to improve the conditions of communities, enhance the quality of life of population groups, especially the disadvantaged, and strengthen community based organizations and civic life.
