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Lydia Conley, JD

President and CEO
Association for Behavioral Healthcare

Lydia Conley became President/CEO for the Association for Behavioral Healthcare on July 1, 2019. As President/CEO, Lydia is responsible for setting the strategic direction of ABH in consultation with the Board of Directors. Lydia oversees the daily operations of ABH while also serving as ABH’s primary representative to state agencies, the legislature and regulatory bodies. In this role, Lydia works closely with ABH member organizations to accomplish ABH’s mission in promoting and advocating for community-based mental health and addiction treatment services.

Lydia served as ABH’s Vice President for Mental Health from 2014 - 2019 prior to becoming President/CEO, holding primary responsibility at ABH for oversight of managed care issues. Lydia led ABH’s work in relation to MassHealth’s implementation of its Delivery System Reform Incentive Program (DSRIP) during this period. Lydia also was ABH’s point person working with the Department of Mental Health as it designed and implemented the Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS) program.

Prior to joining ABH, served in a number of leadership roles at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, most recently as Assistant Commissioner for Policy, Programs and External Relations. In this role, she engaged in public program and policy development on a range of issues affecting low-income individuals and families.

Earlier in her career, Lydia worked at ABH’s predecessor organization from 2000 - 2008 first as a Program Specialist and eventually as Vice President for Public Policy, providing support on legislative, billing, and children's issues. She also worked in the Massachusetts legislature for three years as a legislative aide to the House Vice-Chair of the legislative Health Care Committee.

Lydia also holds a Juris Doctor degree from New England School of Law and is a member of the Massachusetts bar.

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