How Community-Based Programs Like Wurzweiler's Care Café Build Real-World Impact

Mental health support shouldn't require an appointment, a diagnosis or a clinical setting. Sometimes it just needs a welcoming space, an open door and people who care, which is exactly what the Wurzweiler School of Social Work's Care Café provides. This program takes mental health support out of the classroom and into the community. It's social work in its most natural environment: wherever people need to be seen, heard and supported.

This post explores Wurzweiler’s Care Café, highlighting the vital role of community-based programs in social work and their lasting impact on the well-being of our communities.

What Is Wurzweiler’s Care Café?

The Care Café is both a community-based social work program and a social experiment in what happens when empathy empowers. Run by the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, the Café offers free, open-door wellness sessions designed to bring people together around topics that matter to them. Themes include stress, grief, burnout, parenting and resilience.¹ There's no red tape or pressure, just people connecting.

MSW students and faculty lead the sessions, which allows students to apply theories they’ve learned in class to social work practice. They guide discussions, answer questions and offer resources from lived empathy rather than from a textbook.

The mission is simple: make mental health care accessible, approachable and human again.

The Role of Community-Based Programs in Social Work

One of the benefits of being a social worker is the opportunity to participate in community-based social work programs, where the profession’s ideals—such as advocacy, inclusion and service—move from principle to practice.

Research shows that people who feel disconnected from their communities and those with lower incomes are far more likely to struggle with depression, anxiety and stress.² A strong sense of community is protective, as it builds connection and belonging to improve mental health and advance health equity. A BMC Public Health study spanning three decades, for example, showed that getting involved in a positive youth development program early in life may help break the cycle of poverty later on by supporting education and building long-term skills.³

For MSW students, programs like the Care Café are hands-on training. They bridge the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Students learn to adapt in the moment, listen actively and navigate the unpredictable moments that often occur in human interaction.

For the community, these programs create a rare space that doesn't feel clinical or intimidating. People meet each other where they already are: in libraries, churches, community centers and even online. It's social work without barriers—no labels and no appointment required.

When students, faculty, local leaders and the community collaborate like this, everyone benefits. Students grow by advocating for underserved communities, and the community gains more mental health resources.

Benefits for Students

By the time they graduate, Wurzweiler students have already gained substantial practical experience. The Care Café is central to this, providing a chance to practice their craft before they hold a license.

Each community-based social work session is a mini-practicum in leadership, cultural awareness, advocacy and compassion. Students learn how to read a room, facilitate meaningful discussion and offer practical support. They also gain exposure to a mix of populations, which strengthens their adaptability.

Benefits for Communities

For those on the receiving end, conversations in the Care Café may be the first instances in which they feel heard.

Each Café is designed around real community needs. Some sessions focus on coping with anxiety or loss; others dive into parenting, self-care or setting boundaries. Some events address current events. Healing in the Aftermath of Hate, for instance, addressed social media hate following the Capitol Riot by hosting two unlikely friends: Pardeep Kaleka, who lost his father in the 2012 Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin, and Arno Michaelis, a former skinhead who once led a major white supremacist group. They shared how hate turned to healing by way of forgiveness.⁴

The format and themes may vary, but the mission stays the same: Make mental health feel normal. The accessibility of these programs means they reach people who might otherwise slip through the cracks, such as those who can't afford therapy or are unsure where to turn.

Over time, the consistency of the programs builds trust. It also builds stronger, more resilient communities in which people see social work as a partnership.

How Care Café Creates Lasting Impact

Each session creates change that lasts well beyond a single conversation. One recent series of workshops, for instance, focused on stress management for parenting during COVID-19. Participants built new habits and coping strategies together during one of the most difficult times in modern history. As another example, the Care Café is committed to helping service members and their families navigate life after the military through mental health support and community programs.¹

Each community-based social work event is small on the surface, but the impact lingers. Students gain confidence and clarity about the kind of social workers they want to be. Community members walk away with new tools and a sense that they're not alone.

Kimberly Moore, PhD, LCSW, MA, MAC, CASAC, ADS, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Care Café at Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Her praise shows the positive impact this program has on the school and community. "I am humbled to serve in the capacity of Director of Care Café. True knowledge and wisdom develop when we are courageous enough to share our vulnerabilities and immerse ourselves within and across diverse communities and cultures. It is then that we can strategically organize our efforts toward empowerment, change, and advocacy."

The Future of Community-Based Social Work Programs

The next generation of community-based social work programs will be both local and hybrid. Wurzweiler's virtual social work outreach already connects participants across regions, offering workshops and resources online for anyone who needs them.

Students learn to navigate both digital and in-person care settings, preparing for a future in which "community" can mean a neighborhood, a classroom or a Zoom meeting. It's a shift that keeps social work accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Step Into the Work That Changes Lives

Community-based initiatives like the Care Café give Wurzweiler students the chance to experience true social work. They build relationships and community, learn research skills, gain leadership experience and create tangible change.

In the online MSW program, you'll further those skills through immersive coursework, hands-on practice and mentorship from experienced faculty. Further, the program's signature learning platform, The Heights, uses interactive tools and real-world simulations of professional practice to bring clinical training to life.

You'll join a diverse student community and learn in a flexible online format designed to fit into your busy schedules. Over time, the hands-on work combined with focused classwork prepares you for a transformative career in social work and advocacy, giving you the confidence to shape systems that work for everyone.

Take the next step. Learn more about the Wurzweiler School of Social Work curriculum and admissions requirements. Then schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor to explore how Wurzweiler can prepare you for a career that transforms lives and strengthens communities.