Harnessing Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) for Building Resilient Communities: A Case Study of the NV Minority Health and Equity Coalition

Abstract

Developing sustainable research and health equity partnerships is crucial for creating long-term solutions that address systemic disparities and improve community well-being. Coalition building, a fundamental strategy in this process, unites diverse stakeholders to collaborate on shared goals, amplifying collective impact. The importance of such an approach led to the development of the Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition (NMHEC). This study aims to achieve two primary objectives: first, to identify and integrate networked resources into the community coalition action theory (CCAT) framework to advance an understanding of community resilience; second, to share NMHEC strategies that incorporate community participation within each CCAT construct. The article outlines a generalizable process for establishing a robust health equity coalition through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach framed by CCAT and Community Resilience Theory (CR) principles. Documenting the narrative, facilitators, and barriers through an analysis of archival documents — including coalition recruitment materials, meeting minutes, and partnership and event evaluations — the study maps activities and resources to CCAT constructs. Findings highlight six foundational areas of NMHEC operations: 1) aligning fiscal agency with the coalition’s mission and vision; 2) implementing tiered membership to ensure participation equity; 3) co-developing operational norms to shape culture and interactions; 4) building capacity based on member feedback to assess available skills and resources; 5) sharing resources such as grant awards and staff time with coalition partners; and 6) seeking external advice from national experts to learn from other partnerships. This application of CCAT, CR, and CBPR illustrates effective strategies for fostering, maintaining, and sustaining partnerships to address health inequities.