Rural and underserved communities' examination of community capacity

• Background: A conceptual model was used to facilitate examination of three dimensions of community capacity (capital, catalysts, and outcomes) with community members from two culturally diverse and underserved communities – a refugee resettlement area and a rural community in the Arizona-Mexico border region.

• Methods: This qualitative design used focus groups to collect data from 35 adults who either lived and/or worked in the target communities and who had previously participated in community projects, coalitions, etc with the local Area Health Education Center (AHEC) regional offices. Participants represented health, education, community coalitions, and religious and political sectors. A structured moderator guide used apriori categories (capital, catalysts and outcomes) for data collection and analysis. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

• Results: Participants described human capital as community members who provided leadership and demonstrated respect and cultural awareness. Social capital was described as connections among members with passion, commitment and persistence and an ability to articulate with others. Community capacity outcomes (catalysts response) in the refugee community included community involvement in community gardens and a farmer's market. A capacity outcome for the rural community was a community coalition to address school dropout.

• Conclusions: This robust model engaged participants' examination of community capacity, identification of capital, catalysts and capacity outcomes. These findings can inform PHN practice and academic-community partnerships that aim to build community capacity in underserved and rural localities.