Advancing The Common Good in Times of Crisis: A Guide for Parents & Families

We live and are raising children in a time when our lives are impacted by increasingly complex global crises. We continue to grapple with the loss and changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Extreme weather events—from floods to wildfires—occur with increasing frequency and intensity. Economic challenges, climate change, and violence continue to push people to cross borders.

These changes can feel overwhelming. But they also present an opportunity to consider the idea of the “common good” and how even actions that seem small can make a difference far beyond one’s own family and community.

This resource invites families to explore complex global issues together and to think through how their actions and the actions of leaders can help to promote the common good in times of crisis. Before engaging in these conversations with teens, we encourage adults to read through our Current Events Strategies for Parents and Teens, which has helpful tips, reflections, and resources to guide these discussions.