GREENFIELD, NH — John W. Richards, MSW, MBA, of Deerfield, NH, has been named Brain Injury Community Services Coordinator for Crotched Mountain Foundation. In his new role, he will research, develop and coordinate community-based brain injury services off the rehabilitation center's campus.

"We are delighted to welcome John," remarked Rocco Chiappini, MD, director of the Brain Injury Center at Crotched Mountain. "His leadership and insights into the needs of brain injury survivors and their families will be a great resource to our organization."

Throughout his twenty-five year career as a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, Mr. Richards has served a number of organizations throughout New England including the Center for Life Management in Salem, NH; Lakeview Community Services in Effingham Falls, NH; and Atlantic Behavioral Medicine in Dover, NH; Mentor Clinical Care, Inc. in Boston; and the Family Continuity Program in Plymouth, MA. For more than a decade he was employed by Residential Resources, Inc., a Keene, NH based agency that provides fully-integrated, life-enhancing supports to people with developmental and acquired disabilities throughout the northeast. During that time he served as president, vice-president of operations, director of marketing and development, and director of special projects.

He has held leadership positions on the boards of a number of professional and community organizations. From 1995-1999 he served as president of the NH Brain Injury Association, and is a long-time board member of the National Brain Injury Association. Within his hometown, Mr. Richards has been actively involved in the Deerfield Community Church, local preschool, and has served the Town as deputy and overseer of welfare. In 2002 he was honored with the Sherburne Award for outstanding citizenship and contributions to the Deerfield community.

Mr. Richards is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he received bachelor's degrees in Physics and Social Science in 1976. He went on to receive a master's degree in Social Work in 1980 from Simmons College which presented him with the MacRae Outstanding Student Award. In 1993, he earned his master's in Business Administration, with emphasis in Healthcare Management, from the University of Massachusetts.

Crotched Mountain is a charitable organization employing more than 900 people. Its mission is to serve individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development, and building communities of mutual support. Crotched Mountain provides specialized education, rehabilitation, community, and residential support services for more than 2,000 consumers, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly, living in New England and New York. For more information about Crotched Mountain please visit their web site: www.crotchedmountain.org.