Ruth has been a key figure in the Los Angeles County service system for over 25 years. She was appointed to the LA County Department of Mental Health Systems Leadership Team from its inception to its disbandment.

In 2007 Ruth received the Chairman’s Award from the LA County Mental Health Commission and the Department of Mental Health for her work on the design and implementation of the Los Angeles County Mental Health Services Act.

In 2013 Ruth accepted the Award for Outstanding Program for SHARE! Collaborative Housing from the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission. In 2016 Ruth received the American Psychological Association Division 27 award for Distinguished Contributions to Practice in Community Psychology for all of her innovative work implementing research into practice at SHARE!.

PUBLICATIONS

• 2015 Ruth L. Hollman “Best Practices for the Structure of Self-Help Support Groups” The Community Psychologist Vol. 48
  http://scra27.org/publications/tcp/tcp-pastissues/tcpspring2015/self-help/#wsZLGHYYA8p56oIm.99
• 2014 L.D. Brown, X. Tang and R.L. Hollman “The Structure of Social Exchange in Self-help Support Groups: Development of a Measure” American Journal of Community Psychology 53:83-95

HONORS

• 2017 Community Outreach Award, Peer Specialist to Youth training program, Loyola Marymount University
• 2016 American Psychological Association award for Distinguished Contributions to Practice in Community Psychology
• 2013 Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission Award for Outstanding Program
• 2010 Season for Non-violence Local Hero Award, Agape and Common Peace
• 2010 Recognition, Secular Organizations for Sobriety for contributions to and advocacy on behalf of recovery through self-help support groups
• 2009 Community Partner Award, A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project
• 2008 Mental Health Advocacy Award, Los Angeles County
• 2007 Chairman’s Award, Mental Health Commission of Los Angeles County
• 2005 Keynote Speaker at Sweden’s National Self-Help Support Group Conference, Stockholm

 COMMUNITY SERVICE

• 2022-present Treasurer for Peer Action 4 Change—an independent nonprofit corporation advocating for mental health consumers, survivors and others in recovery.
• 2015-present—Participant member, Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative Policy Summit
• 2015-present—Member, Venice Forward—a community initiative organized by Los Angeles Councilman Mike Bonin to address homelessness on Venice Beach
• 2014-present—Member, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) Recovery Month Advisory Committee
• 2006-2018—Member of the System Leadership Team for Department of Mental Health
• 2007-2015 Editorial Board Member, The International Journal of Self Help & Self Care
• 2004-2009 Elected Delegate from SPA 5 to the Los Angeles County Stakeholders’ Process for the implementation of the Mental Health Services Act
• 2003-2015 President, National Network of Mutual Help Centers
• 2000-2005 Member SPA 5 Council for Children
• 1994-present Advisory Board Member, Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)
• 1994-1997 Advisory Board Member, Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles

Education

1986 University of California, Los Angeles, Ph.D. Candidate in Anthropology.
1980 Australian National University, Canberra, A.C.T. Australia. BA (Honours) with majors in Anthropology and Economics.
1971-1974 Nouvelle Ecole Moser, Geneva Switzerland. All classes at this high school were conducted in French.