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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING ON COOK COUNTY TO ASSESS ITS LACTATION ROOMS AND LACTATION ROOM POLICIES IN AN EFFORT TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF NURSING MOTHERS IN ITS FACILITIES
WHEREAS, breastfeeding offers proven health benefits for babies and mothers, but women often find it difficult to continue breastfeeding once they return to the workplace; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among employed women with children under age 3, approximately 70 percent work full time and one-third of mothers return to work within 3 months after giving birth, and two-thirds return within 6 months; and
WHEREAS, challenges to breastfeeding mothers include lack of break time and inadequate facilities for pumping and storing human milk; and
WHEREAS, providing accommodations for breastfeeding offers numerous rewards for the employer, in cost savings for health care, reduced absenteeism, employee morale, and employee retention; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and its facilities owned or rented are unique in that they must accommodate county employees, workers who are not employed by Cook County but who perform some of their job duties in county facilities, as well as members of the general public; and
WHEREAS, many of the challenges facing breastfeeding mothers can be reduced with a small investment of time, money, and flexibility; and
WHEREAS, some Cook County buildings and courthouses owned or rented currently have space reserved for breastfeeding mothers, but some challenges remain, and it is incumbent upon this body to evaluate existing resources and see where there is opportunity for improvement;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that the county shall undertake an evaluation of its current lactation rooms and policies for those rooms, with the goal of having all public buildings owned, and operated or rented by Cook County with a designated private room, other than a restroom, for persons seek...
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