RUTH B.

BALSER

EDUCATION:
October 1980 Ph.D., Clinical Psychology,
New York University, New York, NY

June 1969 A.B., University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

LICENSE:
June 1982 Licensed as a Psychologist by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

ELECTED POSITIONS:
January 2005 –
December 2008 House Chair, Joint Committee on Mental
Health and Substance Abuse. As the first ever
Chair of this committee, I was responsible for
significant increase in access to health care
services for this vulnerable population.

January 1999 –
Present Representative, Massachusetts Legislature.
I have been elected by the people of Newton
for 6 sessions. 20 bills that I sponsored
became law; I brought improvements for
Newton in budgets and bond bills; I brought a
federal grant to Newton for the preservation of
Hammond Pond; and worked with the MWRA
to maintain access to Echo Bridge. I have
been recognized by a long list of organizations
as Legislator of the Year.

January 1988 –
December 1995 Alderman, Newton Board of Aldermen,
Newton, Massachusetts
I authored the accessory apartment ordinance,
providing affordable housing without changing
the physical landscape of the city; I chaired the
Public Safety & Transportation committee,
worked successfully with neighborhoods to
implement traffic calming measures; I was a
founding member of the Newton Child Care
Commission. Elected 4 times.
EMPLOYMENT:
April 1994 –
August 1998 Managed Care Administrator, Merit Behavioral
Care Corp., Burlington, MA. As a manager for
this behavioral health managed care
organization, I was responsible for managing
resources, while ensuring quality services were
delivered to consumers. I was responsible for
hiring, firing, supervising, and evaluating
personnel.
July 1982 –
1997 Clinical Psychologist in Private Practice,
Brookline, MA. I ran my own small business as
a health care professional.

January 1981 –
July 1983 Director, Newton-Wellesley-Weston-Needham
Multi-Service Center, Newton, MA. I was
responsible for overseeing the delivery of
services at this mental health facility for
adolescents and their families including hiring,
supervising, and evaluating staff.

September 1979 –
May 1980 Lecturer, Lesley College, Cambridge, MA.
Taught psychology.

August 1977 –
July 1979 Chief, Children’s Service, Greater Lawrence
Mental Health Center, Lawrence, MA.
Responsible for ensuring quality services
delivered to the community in most effective
way; hiring, supervising, and evaluating
personnel.

July 1976 –
August 1977 Psychologist, Greater Lawrence Mental Health
Center, Lawrence, MA.

September 1975 –
August 1976 Clinical Psychology Trainee, Judge Baker
Guidance Center, Boston, MA.
December 1969 –
July 1973 Mental Health Worker, Cambridge Hospital,
Cambridge, MA.