January 2023

Matthew May, Ben Larsen, Gabe Osterhout, Cheong Kim, Kyle Peterson

The Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) has been designated the lead state agency to collaborate with state and local partners to develop a comprehensive statewide plan to bridge the digital divide in the state. ICfL has partnered with Idaho Policy Institute for planning support, including conducting two statewide surveys, one of Idaho’s general population and one of Idaho’s Spanish-speaking households. This research will be supplemented with regional focus groups and stakeholder interviews. Data from surveys, focus groups, and interviews will be used to inform the State of Idaho’s Digital Access for All Idahoans Plan, including measurable objectives for the state to reach in the future. These objectives will be based on four broad categories: technology and infrastructure, policy change (state and local), funding opportunities, increasing access among covered populations, and regional equity.

Community Health Needs Assessment

Lantz McGinnis-Brown, McAllister Hall, Aisha Kayed, Brie Veltri, Vanessa Fry, Taylor Neher

The CHNA team spent January writing reports. The team wrote a separate report for each of the following regions: Malheur County, Oregon, Baker County, Oregon, Treasure Valley, Idaho, Magic Valley, Idaho, and Blaine County, Idaho. Each report covers the demographics of the region, health factors (insurance, oral health, mental health, etc.), financial factors (unemployment, housing, poverty, etc.), and education (teacher salaries, K-12 performance, go-on rates, etc.). The reports are being reviewed by the boards at St.Luke’s and Saint Alphonsus’ as well as the lead team in each region.

HUD Eviction Protection Grant Program

Ben Larsen, Lantz McGinnis-Brown, McAllister Hall, Vanessa Fry

IPI does data management for the HUD Eviction Protection Grant Program in partnership with Idaho Legal Aid Services and other partners across Idaho, Montana, and Utah. The program provides low-income households with free eviction legal services and representation. In the program’s first year, 857 households receive assistance with eviction cases across the three states.

New Graduate Assistant in IPI

Kyle Peterson was hired as a graduate research assistant assisting the Idaho Commission for Libraries with their Digital Access for All Idahoans Plan. Kyle is in the Master of Public Health program and will graduate in May of 2023. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Outdoor Recreation Leadership from the University of Idaho. Kyle has a passion for pursuing wide-ranging and interdisciplinary topics, with past positions on BSU campus with the Center for the Study of Aging and the Energy Policy Institute. His primary interests relate to effective writing and health communication, along with growing interests in policymaking and climate sustainability.

New Interns with IPI

Three new interns started with IPI in January.

Resource Nexus for Sustainability Launch

The Resource Nexus for Sustainability had a launch event in January at the JUMP building. Over 200 people from the community and campus attended the event to learn more about the grad challenge. Julia Culbert from Arizona State University served as the keynote speaker and members of the community gave lightning talks on the opportunities for community partnerships with the Grand Challenge. The evening ended with an announcement for funding opportunities

SPSA Conference Presentation

Cheong Kim presented a study, “Performance Management Strategies of Government CEOs by Contractor Form: A Survey Experiment,” (co-authored by Matthew May and Vanessa Fry) at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, January 14, 2023. This study highlighted an agency problem undermining the relationship between the government and the contractor, and management strategies the government could implement to keep the agent engaged in a public goal.

Graduate Student Presents on Statewide Survey

Elijah Kuisachor presented selected results from the Eighth Annual Statewide Survey to IPI team members

• “As affordable housing crisis continues, informal evictions harm Idaho renters” Idaho Capital Sun, January 1, 2023
• “Data: Concern about Idaho’s future rises. Rent, property tax, grocery tax and education on Idahoan’s minds” Boise Dev, January 20, 2023
• “Idaho Public Policy Survey shows concern about State, economy” KBOI Channel 2 News, January 20, 2023
• “Idahoans show concerns about taxes, budget surplus, and growth in Boise State survey” Idaho Statesman, January 21, 2023
• “Boise State University survey finds 41% of Idahoans say the state is on the wrong track” Idaho Capital Sun, January 20, 2023
• “As Pandemic Rent Relief Ends, States Struggle to Prevent Homelessness” Pew, January 24, 2023
• “The most crucial decision for education since statehood will take place this session” Idaho Ed News, January 26, 2023
• “Opinion: Idaho’s education system is at a crucial crossroads. Vouchers are the wrong path” Idaho Statesman, January 29, 2023
• “Idaho Public Survey reveals growing concern about states economic future” Boise State Public Radio, January 30, 2023