The city of Greensboro plans to adopt an approach already underway in other North Carolina cities to address violence in specific neighborhoods.
The Cure Violence program looks at violence in communities as a public-health issue. It uses an "epidemic-control" model in target areas to reduce violence.
A similar version of the program is in Durham.
The Greensboro city council approved $500,000 for the program, which will come from the city's general fund balance. City council members voted 8-0 to approve a contract with One Step Further to administer the program.
"Cure Violence" will specifically target areas in east Greensboro.
City officials and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners have been in discussions about the program for more than a year.
