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Residents raise concerns about DSS hair‑follicle testing; local nonprofit thanks county for grant funding
Summary
During public comment at the July 22 Henrico Board meeting, residents urged reconsideration of Henrico DSS use of hair follicle drug testing citing racial and scientific bias; Safe Harbor's executive director thanked the board for CDBG funding to purchase a transitional housing property.
Several citizens used the July 22 public‑comment period to raise policy and customer‑service concerns and to thank the county for recent grant support.
A resident, Melissa (Elisa) Jones, told the board she is “a voice for families” and criticized Henrico Department of Social Services’ (DSS) use of hair‑follicle drug testing in child‑welfare cases, telling supervisors that the test can be “scientifically flawed, racially biased, and carries heavy consequences, particularly for…
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