Following months of temporary mental health care services after the Star Dance Studio shooting, Chinatown Service Center will be a more permanent fixture at Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library.

As part of a new license agreement, the city will continue to provide space for Chinatown Service Center to provide on-site counseling for the next five years.

“When this tragedy happened, we knew it was out of obligation to work together with the city — with the residents — to heal, said Peter Ng, CEO of Chinatown Service Center.

Immediately after the Jan. 21 tragedy that left 11 dead and nine injured, the city of Monterey Park offered drop-in counseling to any resident affected by the shooting through Feb. 10. It was part of broader push for mental health services and counseling in the wake of the shooting as the city began a long process of recovery.

Now, visitors of the library can expect to access community counseling services Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Caseworkers on site are multilingual.

Monterey Park Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Wong confirmed that these services come at no extra cost to the city, and that the Chinatown Service Center is responsible for securing funding through its nonprofit status.

Diana Garcia, Monterey Park librarian, said the partnership with the Chinatown Service Center goes back further than Jan. 6 mass shooting.

The two have worked together to provide programs such as small business coaching, parenting workshops and a Tax Assistance Clinic.

Garcia said this longstanding partnership made providing a permanent space for the center a natural decision with a smooth transition.

“One of the lessons that we took out of COVID was that people turn to the library in times of crisis,” Garcia said. “It’s a trusted institution — they know the librarians and feel comfortable … so we knew that in the aftermath of the shooting that people were going to turn to the library.”

Whether folks just need a quick check in or require intensive mental health care, Garcia said that the table in the center of the first-floor Chinatown Service Center is there for to find help.

“We hope that this effort is going to help bring more mental wellness to the community and also destigmatize the need for a mental health services or mental health treatment,” said Nina Loc, behavioral health director for Chinatown Service Center.

The counseling are part of an array of measures the city has taken to bolster recovery resources since the tragedy.

To further healing, the Monterey Park Community Fund has now raised $50,000, according to Monterey Park’s Treasurer, Amy Lee who also sits on the fund committee. The most recent contribution, provided during the April 5 City Council meeting, was $5,000 and made by Monterey Park’s Firefighters Association after a community barbecue fundraiser in March.

As money continues to be donated, the committee is centering prevention, education and community engagement, said Hans Liang, president of L.A. County Deputy Probation Officers Union and Monterey Park Community Fund committee member. As a former city council member and mayor, Liang looks to embolden the community with resources to use in times of crisis.

“The more informed and educated people are on on what options are available, the better,” he said.

Lee announced that the committee’s first initiative is to provide free monthly dance classes to all ages at Langley Senior Center on Emerson Avenue.

“We want to hold joy, connect generations and keep our residents dancing,” she said.

For Chinatown Service Center mental health services, visit www.cscla.org/counseling or call (213) 808-1700.

Additionally, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health help line is available 24/7 to provide mental health support, resources and referrals at (800) 854-7771. Or text 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to get free crisis support via text message.

For emergency help call 9-1-1. The suicide and crisis hotline can be reached at 988. For Crisistext and Deaf and Hard of Hearing support, text “HEARME” to 839863.