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LAWRENCE -- The Sunflower Foundation, a Topeka-based organization that funds health-related projects around the state, has given Kansas Public Radio a $30,000 grant to continue the network's award-winning series "Kansas Kids: A Prescription for Change." Kansas Public Radio is based at the University of Kansas.
The Sunflower Foundation money will be pooled with a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to fund this statewide radio series, which is in its third year. As the reporter for the series, Bryan Thompson researches, writes and produces stories focusing on the health and well-being of Kansas children. The stories are made available free of charge to radio stations across Kansas.
The Sunflower Foundation, created in 2000, is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to serve as a catalyst for improving Kansans' health. In the organization's first funding cycle, the foundation has awarded grants totaling approximately $2.4 million to health-related entities statewide.
Recent "Kansas Kids" stories have examined the quality of day care available in the state, the importance of foreign-born doctors to health care in rural areas, how teenagers often are left to fend for themselves when they "age out" of state foster care, the move to ensure foster parents' rights, and even the role that chess can play in the development of critical-thinking skills in grade-schoolers.
"We feel it's important not to limit this series strictly to medical issues," Thompson said. "Lots of children who may be physically healthy are struggling with mental, emotional or social problems."
The series developed as a way to increase public awareness about a variety of children's health concerns in Kansas, by examining various health problems and their possible solutions, and the medical, social and legislative aspects of health and social policy.
"As a new health foundation in Kansas, we are excited about supporting programs that help inform and educate the public about important health issues," said Sunflower Foundation President and CEO Billie Hall.
"Kansas Kids" has won numerous state and national awards, including a 2002 Kansas City Associated Press Broadcasters award for a show about food allergies and the 2001 Kansas Association of Broadcasters' Tony Jewell Award for contributions in the field of alcohol/drug abuse prevention. Several individual programs received first- or second-place awards from the KAB during 2000-01. The series even received national recognition with an award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., the largest association of public radio journalists.
Past shows are available at the series' Web site, www.kansaskidshealth.org, using the RealAudio G2 format. The Web site also features links to more information about children's health topics.
"Kansas Kids: A Prescription For Change" can be heard around the state on these stations:
* KANU 91.5-FM, Lawrence; KANH 89.7-FM, Emporia; K210CR 89.9-FM, Atchison: 6:40 and 8:40 a.m. Mondays during "Morning Edition"
* KMUW 89.1-FM, Wichita, occasional
* KKSU 580-AM, Manhattan, between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays during evening newscast, and 1:30 p.m. Fridays during "Sound Living"
* KANZ 91.1-FM, Garden City, 8:45 a.m. Thursdays during "Morning Edition"
* KZNA 90.5-FM, Hill City, 8:45 a.m Thursdays during "Morning Edition"
* KCUR 89.3-FM,, Kansas City, Mo., occasional
* KONQ 91.9-FM/KDCC 1550-AM, Dodge City, 8:15 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays
* KVGB 1590-AM, Great Bend, 7:10 a.m. Saturdays and 9:05 a.m. Sundays
* KSAL 1150-AM, Salina, 12:35 p.m. Saturdays during midday newscast
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