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I hope others will consider joining those of us in nursing who have taken the leap into public policy. Being involved in the public policy process is an integral role to nursing and a mechanism for excellence. Our public policy role is just as important as serving as a clinician, researcher, or educator. This offers nurses a choice to become involved to advance the nursing profession, the American healthcare system, and the public welfare and good. We have heard the expression: "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." Well, in politics, how you play the game can determine whether you win or lose an issue, and as nurses we have great power in numbers. The time is ripe to become involved - this is the call to political action for excellence in nursing in home health and hospice care. I welcome your participation!

This article presents an academic-public health partnership needs assessment. Given the many health systems changes, the Delaware Division of Public Health and the University of Delaware joined forces to study partnership options and public health staff's education needs. This assessment was the first phase of a four-stage, multiyear research-service partnership. The top three education needs identified by the sample (n = 36) of public health staff were (1) community assessment, (2) partnership building, and (3) core functions. Distance education formats were selected as the most popular choice for education updates. Findings support the need for continued education and the use of academic-government partnerships as an education-service delivery resource. Perceived benefits of academic-public health partnerships include staff training, student learning opportunities, improved community services, and increased collaborative research.