By AP
Chicago, IL – Illinois has failed to meet government goals for breast-feeding. That's according to a new report card from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Healthy People 2010 goal wanted 75 percent of mothers to breast-feed their newborns. Half the states have met that goal. But Illinois's rate is only 70 percent. Another goal was for 50 percent to continue breast-feeding at six months; Illinois' rate is 36 percent. Also, only 16 percent of Illinois women breast-feed babies at one year; while the goal is 25 percent. Illinois' Department of Human Services responds its efforts to boost rates there include working to increase the practice among low-income women and encouraging hospitals and businesses to facilitate breast-feeding.