Designing and delivering literacy programs that benefit both parents (or other family members) and children makes sense. But do family literacy programs really work? And if so, who benefits? The concept of family literacy is firmly rooted in a substantial research base from several disciplines, including adult literacy, emergent literacy, child development, and systems analysis. A review of literature from each of these disciplines showed that family literacy programs do work and that at least the following four groups benefit: children, parents, families as units, and the larger society. Some of the benefits include the following: (1) children's achievement in school, reading achievement, social skills, mathematics and science, health, and confidence improves; (2) parents are more likely to persist in family literacy programs than in other types of adult literacy programs, and their reading, writing, and parenting skills increase; (3) families learn to value education, become more involved in schools, become emotionally closer, and build foundations for lifelong learning; and (4) family literacy programs affect nutrition and health, teen parenting, joblessness, and social alienation programs positively. (Contains 85 references.) (KC)