This guide is designed to lead program planners through the course of building and implementing a family literacy program. It provides planning teams with an orientation to a four-component model of family literacy, community resources, planning strategies, examples of programs in Missouri, recent research findings, case study vignettes, and checklists for designing quality programs that achieve their intended goals. The 11 chapters of the program are organized in four parts. Following a glossary, Part One provides a conceptual framework for family literacy programs, including background on family literacy, the Even Start family literacy program, and program planning. Part Two examines these four components of family literacy: adult literacy education, early childhood education, parenting education, and parent and child together time. Part Three offers ideas for program operation and evaluation, including how to establish a home base and a program evaluation process. Part Four contains a chapter listing resources for assistance with program components, related World Wide Web sites, Missouri organizations and foundations, and a list of 21 references. (KC)