Greater Springfield Senior Services Names Israel Rivera Protective Service Program Director

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield Senior Services Inc. (GSSSI) announced the promotion of Israel Rivera as the new Protective Service Program director. He previously served as a Protective Services supervisor prior to accepting this new role. Rivera is replacing Taryn Lee Turgeon as the new director effective Oct. 26.

Since 1982, GSSSI has been designated by the Commonwealth as an Adult Protective Services agency responsible for investigating allegations of elder abuse within 17 cities and towns in Hampden and Hampshire counties. During the past year, the Protective Services Program investigated more than 1,900 abuse allegations throughout the GSSSI catchment area.

Rivera has been employed by Greater Springfield Senior Services since 2017. Prior to coming to GSSSI, he had an extensive background in community corrections through his work as a corrections counselor, focused on transitional planning with ex-offenders, with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. In addition, he has also served as a probation officer in Greenfield District Court and received his Batterer’s Intervention Specialist certification from Holy Family Hospital in Lawrence. Israel received a bachelor’s degree in human services from Springfield College and his master’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University.