A Public Health Approach for Promoting Community Resiliency
Idaho Health Communities Challenge (IHCC) puts forward an ongoing public health response to the rise of violent extremism. Currently three Idaho Counties (Bonner, Kootenai and Twin Falls) are piloting the program, launching their own assessments of violent extremism in their communities and how to combat it.
Our project goals are:
- Reduce and prevent violent extremism and violence
- Counter mis-/disinformation
- Help local communities build resilience to violent extremism among young people
- Enhance community connectedness and reduce social isolation
- Provide follow up support, with additional training/materials as needed
- Create a statewide network of consortiums and individuals willing to prevent violent
extremism
What is violent extremism?
Any action that seeks to influence the political process through violence or intimidation. Violent extremism can occur on the political left or the political right, its existence is not contained to any particular ideology or group.
About Us
Royce Hudson
Professor Hutson’s research focuses on measuring the health and mental health impacts of natural disasters and armed conflict using advanced population-based survey methodologies. In his work, he assisted in developing some of the initial technology that utilized geocoded satellite/aerial photographs to sample households in difficult environments.
Additional work led to improvements in sample weights to more accurately represent the population using these methods. Professor Hutson has conducted multiple surveys in Idaho, South Lebanon, the Syrian-Lebanon border, the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, and greater Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Additionally, his work has also looked at how social exclusion and experiences with violence are related to violent extremism. This research has been funded by a variety of governmental, non- governmental, and multilateral organizations. Professor Hutson was a Visiting Professor of Social Work at Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon in 2007-08 and was a Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution at Lebanese American University in 2016.
Isaac Castellano
Isaac Castellano is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Public Service and has been teaching political science at Boise State since 2013. Raised in the Seattle area, he spent his adult life living in a range of places in our country, including Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Oregon, and Idaho.
Castellano believes that there is more that unites us than divides us as Americans, and that tolerance and engagement with our fellow citizens is a critical component of a democracy.
His research has examined the relationship between environmental scarcity and conflict, including water security, the role of militias and vigilantes in responding to environmental problems, and the impact environmental issues have on U.S. Foreign Policy. He Additionally serves as the Associate Director of the Institute for Advancing American Values at Boise State University.
Contact us
IHCC offers technical assistance and organizing services to jump start your community’s effort to combat violent extremism. Contact IHCC Staff today to start your community’s involvement at Idaho Healthy Community Challenge: ihcc@boisestate.edu