Columbus aims to fight infant mortality, gang violence

COLUMBUS (AP) — Columbus officials approved an operating budget for 2015 that will allocate more funds to combat infant mortality and gang violence.

The Columbus City Council approved the $814 million budget Monday, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Within the budget is an anti-gang program including a $659,000 contract with nonprofit groups Columbus Urban League and the Community for New Direction. The program sends counselors to meet with teens, get them involved in after-school programs or find them a mentor.

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman began the program about four years ago to keep teens off the streets and teach them about solving conflicts peacefully. The program received about $466,000 in 2012.

City council is also expected to move about $750,000 from the budget to the city’s public health department. That money will be used to provide support for city-employed nurses who work with new parents to help reduce the high number of infants in Columbus who die before their first birthday.