Promoting Community Partnerships: Public Policy Initiatives Related to Prenatal Care

Providing community-based health programs that are responsive to the perceived health needs of the community is key to providing critically needed health services to those currently untreated or uninsured. An innovative and culturally sensitive community-partnership program of prenatal care developed for rural Hawaii (Malama) provides a model for effectively integrating the values and expertise of academia and those of the community, as well as of psychology and nursing. Such illustrations are vital for effective healthcare reform.