The advantages of involving the family in the education of their children and insuring the literacy of the entire family are substantial. Family literacy programs encourage parental involvement in the school systems. Because educational skills are transferable to the community and the workplace, a more productive community is created as well. Program components include activities for children and adults, and family support. Family literacy programs are intergenerational, recruiting to immediate or extended family members and spanning age groups.
Families work together to promote mutual learning.
Activities include early childhood programs, day care, kindergarten programs, reading and storytelling events, and music and art activities. This component is the distinguishing feature of family literacy programs. Community resource goals include learning to use medical resources, how to vote, day care, and counseling. Development of social networks includes strengthening interfamilial relationships. Jr. Charitable Trust provided a grant to establish model family literacy programs in Kentucky and North Carolina, which would improve on the original PACE family literacy model.