Carley provided extensive support to the efforts of the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) as the lead writer and editor of the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Additionally, she provided support with strategic vision and project management for the Master Plan process. She contributed to community and stakeholder engagement efforts, including facilitation of recommendation development discussions with committee members. She also compiled comprehensive research on a number of related topics to support the committee in developing recommendations.

Carley supported the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)’ in design of the California Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) initiative. She contributed to design of various initiative components, including incentive programs and guidance on the provision of evidence-based practices for children and families. She also supported the process of negotiations with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for approval of the Section 1115 demonstration. Carley added particular value through analysis to ensure that the needs of the youngest children served by the system were reflected throughout initiative design.

Carley supported DHCS in design and implementation of the CYBHI. She assisted with the development of a comprehensive, multi-payer fee schedule encompassing behavioral health students for children and youth. In addition to work with DHCS on CYBHI, she provided support of efforts to bolster school-based Medicaid services in the state. She produced rigorous analyses of service types and parameters in the school-based setting. This work was rooted in recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics' periodicity schedule and consideration of ongoing equity issues within the state.

Carley contributed as an author of a comprehensive white paper summarizing new guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on provision of school-based services. She also supported the production of a corresponding all-comer informational webinar. This effort highlighted implications of the guidance for state agencies and local partners. The resources were tailored to help demystify reimbursement and funding opportunities for school-based Medicaid services for providers and advocates.

Carley supported design of DHCS’ mobile crisis benefit. She conducted outreach to stakeholders in diverse communities around the state and experts implementing best practices in mobile crisis services in other states. Carley added specific value in analysis of how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) could optimally benefit from county mobile crisis services. Carley also supported with the development of the State Plan Amendment encompassing the mobile crisis benefit.

Carley worked on DHCS’ Enhanced Care Management (ECM) benefit, a component of CalAIM. She contributed to the drafting of policy guidance to inform the roll-out and implementation of the program. She also supported technical assistance and all-comer webinars to accompany the roll-out of the benefit. Carley also contributed to efforts to implement high quality monitoring protocols to ensure implementation of the ECM benefit with fidelity to the program design.

Carley led an analysis of the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents of skilled nursing facilities in San Francisco, on behalf of the Human Services Agency Planning Unit. She conducted stakeholder outreach, including facilitation of interviews and focus groups with residents, staff, and other stakeholders. She also compiled extensive research to inform her analysis. Ultimately, Carley authored a comprehensive memorandum presenting findings and policy recommendations.

Carley had the opportunity to complete a behavioral health fellowship with the state of North Carolina’s Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. This fellowship culminated in the opportunity to present months of cutting-edge research on the behavioral health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Department Secretary.