Telethon on KCAL is a SANE way to keep kids out of trouble

Here’s a telethon that’s both informative and directly affects local schoolchildren: The Fourth Annual “SANE Kids Say No” Telethon, which uses profits to benefit the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Substance Abuse Narcotics Education program.

Developed in 1985, SANE is a drug-prevention program that works with 415 area schools to teach kids how to say no to drugs and alcohol, how to resist peer pressure and how to develop self-esteem.

An anti-gang program developed in 1989 includes lessons on social values, the media image of gang members and alternatives to violence. In addition, SANE deputies work outside the classroom to educate parents.

Some of SANE’s techniques will be televised in this year’s fund-raiser, which is set to include celebrity appearances by Edward James Olmos, Vikki Carr, Ron Masak and Roger Barkley.

“SANE Kids Say No” Telethon, Saturday 5-10 p.m. KCAL. For parents (and informational segments for children).

MORE KIDS’ SHOWS

Between Friends (today 5:30-6 p.m. KCET) is a rebroadcast educational program about AIDS prevention for Hispanic teens and their families. For ages 13 and up.

HBO for Kids is an hour of children’s programming that airs every day from 8 to 9 a.m. Included this month: new episodes of the animates series “Babar” and “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” For 3- to 11-year-olds.

How do you explain the birds and the bees? Tune into Talking Sex . . . With Your Kids (today noon-12:30 p.m. HBO) to find out. For parents.

KABC’s public affairs show City View discusses Los Angeles’ gang problem by profiling young women in gangs (today 5:30-6 p.m. KABC). For ages 13 and up.

Cool Moves: Teens Together (today 6-7 p.m. and Friday 4-5 p.m. KCET), making its premiere, shows local teen-agers who are making a positive contribution to society by cleaning up graffiti and helping the environment. For ages 12 and up.

Five days of Wonderworks reruns (Monday-Friday 1:30-2:30 p.m.) include a two-part tale of a deaf Australian boy and a three-part story of a high-school student who visits Africa for the summer to spend time with his father. For 9- to 15-year-olds.

In the series finale of Degrassi High (Monday 7:30-8 p.m. and Saturday 8-8:30 a.m. KCET), Dwayne reveals his secret to the rest of the student body, who also learn that the school will be closing its doors forever. For 12- to 16-year-olds.

Son of Dinosaurs (Tuesday 8-9 p.m. the Disney Channel) is an entertaining and informative glimpse at the coolest animals no longer on the planet--via two new dinosaur museums. For all ages.

In Hang Tight, Willy-Bill (Friday 8-8:30 a.m. Showtime), an unemployed black teen tries to overcome job discrimination. For 10- to 14-year-olds.

An animated version of Gulliver’s Travels (Friday 3-4 p.m. Showtime) stars Jonathan Swift’s hero, who towers over the population of Lilliput. For 5- to 11-year-olds.

The 1964 film Lassie: Look Homeward (Saturday 2:30-4 p.m. Nickelodeon) finds the famous collie separated from her companion, Ranger Stuart, when the pair must bail out of a plane threatened by a storm. Naturally, Lassie must overcome many obstacles to be reunited. For 5- to 12-year-olds.