The literature reports the growing incorporation and participation of community psychology on public policies, and considering the obstacles and tensions in this relationship as reported by literature,–it is both academically and professionally relevant to review the knowledge transfer from the academia to the policy making process. We review a body of literature regarding the link between academic production and the response to social problems, emphasizing the deliberative politics approach, with a description of stakeholders´confluent and conflicting interpretations as a factor of change for public policies. We also review the literature regarding the complexity of knowledge transfer from community psychology to public policy, as reported by this discipline, concluding with recommendations for enhancing its contribution and to understand the tensions reported. Keywords community psychology; public policy; knowledge transfer; deliberative politics; community interventionRegular 2015FONDECYTFONDECYT