Evidence Music Makes A Difference
Facts and Impacts
Many youth face significant challenges, including trauma, stress, anxiety, and unstable environments, which impact their personal and academic growth. Music therapy offers a creative and structured outlet for emotional regulation, healing, and self-expression. TRU Music aligns with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and trauma-informed educational practices to enhance students’ emotional well-being and overall development.
Key Benefits
• Emotional Healing – Supports emotional regulation and trauma recovery through music.
• Social Development – Builds teamwork, empathy, and communication through collaborative songwriting and performances.
• Cognitive Growth – Enhances focus, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
• Behavioral Support – Provides a constructive outlet for emotions, reducing stress and promoting positive behaviors.
Evidence of Impact
Studies show that music therapy programs lead to a 40% reduction in behavioral incidents and a 30% improvement in emotional regulation among at-risk youth. One participant shared, “Music became my safe space, helping me understand and express my feelings in ways I never thought possible.”
Partnerships
About TRU Music & Arise Behavioral Services
TRU Music operates under Arise Behavioral Services, a contracted vendor with the Charles County Department of Health Local Behavioral Health Authority (CCDOH-LBHA). We specialize in mobile treatment and wraparound care for school-aged children, with a focus on transitional challenges. Our services are covered for Medicaid recipients, and we are seeking additional funding to expand access for uninsured and commercially insured individuals.
Mobile Treatment Services – Community-Based Mental Health Care
Arise is proud to partner in delivering Mobile Treatment Services, a highly effective, community-based program modeled after the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) approach. This innovative service is designed to meet individuals where they are—both physically and emotionally—by providing personalized mental health support in their home or community setting.
This program is ideal for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness who require intensive, wrap-around care that goes beyond traditional in-office services. Each client receives a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan, developed and delivered by a multidisciplinary team that includes licensed social workers, therapists, nurses, and dedicated support staff.
Mobile Treatment Services are designed to support all aspects of a person’s life, including:
- Mental health care and medication management
- Housing and employment support
- Substance use recovery assistance
- Social connection and life skills development
As a trusted partner in service delivery, we work closely with Arise to ensure compassionate, consistent care that prioritizes each individual's long-term recovery, independence, and quality of life.
The Beat Goes On with Hip Hop Health
Hip Hop Health
Hip Hop Health is a culturally responsive movement that uses the power of hip hop—its music, language, art, and community—to educate and empower people, especially youth, around health and wellness. By tapping into the cultural relevance of hip hop, this approach makes health education more relatable, engaging, and effective—particularly in underserved communities disproportionately affected by health disparities.
Rather than relying on traditional, top-down public health campaigns, Hip Hop Health speaks the language of the people. It uses rap lyrics to teach about nutrition, animated music videos to promote physical activity, and spoken word to spark conversations about mental health and resilience. This method not only informs but also inspires self-expression, self-awareness, and action.
Our team played a pivotal role in supporting the growth of this movement by helping Hip Hop Public Health produce original music and content designed to connect with youth in schools and community programs. Collaborating directly with artists, educators, and public health experts, we helped craft powerful songs and educational media that fused science with rhythm and creativity.
One of our proudest moments came during our collaboration with the Obama administration, where our content and campaigns were aligned with national health initiatives aimed at reducing childhood obesity and increasing health literacy. Through this partnership, we reached thousands of students across the country and helped establish hip hop as a legitimate, impactful tool for public health education.
This work didn’t just entertain—it informed, motivated, and sparked real behavioral change. Hip Hop Health continues to prove that when culture leads the conversation, communities listen—and lives can change for the better.
