What is the Care Café?

Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work Care Café is a citywide initiative that brings mental health services to vulnerable populations. Our students and faculty have pioneered a targeted model of embedding Care Café programs in local community institutions to provide mental health services tailored to specific constituencies, including vulnerable populations, older adults, holocaust survivors, veterans and military service members, immigrant populations, youth and young adults.

The mission of Care Café

The Care Café’s mission is to directly respond to community needs, providing appropriate and relevant services to specific populations. Working upon the foundations of social work practice, including social justice, fidelity, advancement of human relationships and promotion of self-determination and empowerment, the Care Café utilizes a pointed approach to improving health outcomes, including mental health, for people who are more comfortable seeking assistance in nontraditional settings.

How Care Café Was Born

“I was tired and weary. Bright fall days turned to bitter rainy ones that pushed beads of cold water down my neck and into the seams of my shoes. Every day I commuted on a crowded train under bright fluorescent lights that made my inevitable headache worse. On top of having a demanding job, the presidential election was in full swing and I was bombarded by contentious news that on most days felt assaultive.” Read more