About:

Within Rick's organizational and clinical practices, he typically utilizes short-term, solution-focused, strengths-based methods to address problems or concerns that may act as barriers to an organization's and/or individual's' goals.

For 10 years he served as the Executive Director & CEO of Hopewell: a therapeutic farm community serving adults with serious mental illness. Prior to this he was the Executive Director /CEO at Crisis and Counseling Centers based in Augusta, Maine.

Rick was recognized for his outstanding work in the mental health field when he was named the 2007 Professional of the Year by the Maine Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). He also has served as Chair of the (Maine) Governors Substance Abuse Services Commission and been an adjunct Social Work instructor at The Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University. He has served as a member of the American Residential Treatment Association, as well as, volunteered for the Cleveland area Med Works program.

Rick has been published and interviewed in Behavioral Healthcare Magazine and contributed to several other professional journals and academic manuscripts addressing mental health issues and practice areas. His book publications include three human interest works available to the general public on Amazon.com and in select independent bookstores.

Rick received both his BS and MSW degrees from The Ohio State University and completed training at the US Army Academy of Health Sciences. He is a member of NASW and the Academy of Certified Social Workers.

Rick is married to Megan, has three adult children and four grandchildren. He resides in northeast Ohio and his hobbies include photography, biking, volunteering and writing.

rkarges@live.com

440-636-2116

Industry: Health Services

Current Organization: Richard R. Karges

Specialty: Mental Health

Honors & Awards: 1998 BRIDGES : Mental Health Consumer Empowerment

Affiliations: International Freelance Photographers, National Association of Social Workers, Academy of Certified Social Workers,

Family: Spouse, Megan, Children, Matthew, Julie, Richardson