The City Council approved a new program Wednesday to train gang intervention workers, advancing the city's push to overhaul its anti-gang efforts.

In its 12-0 vote, the council awarded $200,000 to The Advancement Project, which will open the Los Angeles Violence Intervention and Training Academy by March.

"We are only halfway there, but it's an important step," said Councilman Tony Cardenas, who chaired the Ad Hoc Committe on Youth Violence that has overseen the restructuring of the city's anti-gang programs.

The Advancement Project will develop the academy and a program to train gang intervention workers to work with police and other agencies to quell violence and get young people out of gangs.

The program's progress will be reviewed in six months.

At the same time, an advisory panel will be created to review and certify programs conducted by other organizations.

The Advancement Project played a major role in prompting the city to redesign its anti-gang efforts, pointing to the lack of coordination and accountability as well as the need for more anti-gang workers.

That was followed by a report from former Controller Laura Chick, resulting in the City Council moving the anti-gang programs to the authority of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.