1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
Title of Series: Mental health drugs are costliest for Kansas taxpayers Journalist: Dave Ranney
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
27-Sep-10
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
An ever-increasing number of Kansas children are being prescribed psychotropic medications intended for adults.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Much of the story was based on a Kansas University analysis of Medicaid prescription drug payments and trends.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Among those interviewed were the researchers, state officials, child psychiatrists and parents of mentally ill children.
6. Results (if any).
N/A
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No follow-up. The story was well-circulated among parents of children who are mentally ill.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Do your homework, talk to the parents.