Improving the health of Californians: effective public-private strategies for challenging times.

This paper summarizes the discussion that occurred at a November 2003 roundtable on philanthropy and health policy making. The roundtable was intended to stimulate a conversation about the strategic interplay of health policy and philanthropy in a challenging economy; to gain a richer understanding of the needs and expectations of funders and policymakers so that resources can be leveraged far more effectively; and to identify practical, collaborative approaches for advancing policy development and implementation. The gathering included more than fifty key leaders from state and national foundations; state policymakers; representatives from the California governor's office and key state health agencies and commissions; private-sector leaders; and academics.