User:Scottrutz

I'm currently working on the following article, a project in Nebraska using music to work a long a state-funded health and wellness campaign.

MAIN DESCRIPTION
The TUNE project is an effort by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to give young people the inspiration and information they need to live full, healthy lives. TUNE utilizes original music with web and social media to connect health and wellness resources targeted at young people 16-25 years of age in Nebraska.

TUNE used a songwriting contest, launched in fall 2009, to recruit original music from independent artists in the region. More than 150 songs were entered in the contest. Eight artists were selected based upon the inspirational lyrics of their songs and their music abilities. TUNE launched a second songwriting contest in August 2010.

History
TUNE is an effort born indirectly from a Federal grant given to 13 states in the US. These 13 states all had high rates of infant mortality – Nebraska being one of them. After much research, it was determined that one of the contributing factors to this problem was the lack of care by which young people, especially young women, provide for themselves. Young people these days allow their emotional and physical health to take a backseat to other responsibilities in life, whether by not finishing high school or college or choosing to hit a party instead of getting much needed sleep. They don't realize their actions now will take a toll on their future well-being. TUNE aims to push young people to find balance, embrace good habits and TUNE their lives accordingly.

TUNE is working with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and also a Nebraska-based marketing agency, Bailey Lauerman, to raise awareness on the many issues affecting the emotional and physical health of young people.

Developments
TUNE has received many press articles from the advertising/creative world periodicals like [Communication Arts (magazine)|Communication Arts] to local news stations such as WOWT-TV and KOLN-TV.

http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/tune/ http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/92188424.html http://www.answers4families.org/family/diabetes/share-and-connect/tune-project-inspires-music-and-healthy-choices http://www.commarts.com/exhibit/tune-promotional.html http://www.ketv.com/news/24397844/detail.html http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/tune/ http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/91859334.html