The Association for Behavioral Healthcare, the statewide organization for community-based mental health and addiction services providers, announced that its vice president for mental health, Lydia D. Conley, will assume the role of president and CEO, succeeding Vic DiGravio, as of July 1, 2019.
For two decades, Conley has worked in the government and non-profit sectors, helping to shape public policy that has established Massachusetts as perhaps the nation’s most progressive provider of behavioral health services and insurance coverage for mental health and addiction treatment.
“The board unanimously agreed that Lydia was the ideal choice to lead ABH in the coming years,” said Diane Gould, chair of ABH’s board of directors and president and CEO of Advocates, Inc. “Lydia is one of the most highly respected and knowledgeable advocates in the nation for organizations serving individuals with behavioral health needs. We are thrilled that she has accepted the challenge of leading ABH.”
In her role as vice president, Conley has worked closely with state and federal officials to advocate for equitable reimbursement to support the ability of ABH member organizations to continue to deliver high quality services to individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders.
From 2008-2014, Conley worked as policy director and assistant commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, to plan, implement and evaluate programs designed to assist individuals to obtain training and skills for employment.
From 2000-2008, Conley worked at ABH’s predecessor organization, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations of Massachusetts, in various policy positions. She rejoined ABH in 2014.
