•  Children in a classroom

    The Center for Strong Families and Thriving Children is open and ready to serve our families who need it the most. The center provides food, clothing and resources like literacy, parent workshops, and support & readiness tools for our incoming kindergarten scholars and their parents.

    If you are interested in more information, please call: (623) 691-1994.

    Another important function of our center is the Safe Schools and Social Emotional Learning Department (SEL). Our team focuses on supporting your children with any social-emotional needs they may have. We are excited to announce that:

    • Every school has a counselor available for our scholars.

    • Every school has a Response to Intervention Behaviorist (RTIB).

    • We have social workers that are available to support you and your needs at the Center for Strong Families and Thriving Children.

    • We also have McKinney Vento liaison who is here to support any families struggling with homelessness. Please contact Dr. Carlos Perez at: 623-691-1983 or via email at [email protected]

    • Access the forms by clicking the links provided below.

    Residency Questionnaire 2024-25 

    Spanish Version Residency Questionnaire 2024-25

    Rights of Homeless Students

    • Sarah Hernandez, our Director of Attendance and Child Welfare, is also at the center.  Reach out to her if your scholar is having attendance issues you need help with at 623-691-1974.

    Other services we provide:

    • A lending library

    • Information regarding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act

    • “YOU” Your Child’s First Teacher parent workshops

    • Salvation Army Christmas Angels Program (Aug-Sept)

    • St. Mary's Food Bank food pantry (first come, first serve)

    • Community resource referrals (phone contacts) including:

      • Medical

      • Counseling

      • Housing

      • Domestic Violence Assistance

      • Financial assistance

      • Food assistance

      • Preschool Child Care

      • After-School Activities

    Come by and visit us anytime! We are open year-round from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. We are located right next to Bret R. Tarver Leadership Academy, our address is 4308 N. 51st Ave., Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85031.

    The Cartwright Center for Strong Families and Thriving Children is here to serve you; we hope to see you soon!

    Carlos Perez HeadshotDr. Carlos Perez

    Director, Safe Schools & SEL Programs

    As an administrator and educator, Dr. Carlos Perez has served in settings that span the K-12 spectrum, as well as district-level administration. His teaching experience includes elementary and middle school teachers as well as being a former high school assistant principal and elementary principal in Anaheim, California. Through this unique set of experiences, Dr. Perez has developed a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities of each school type and developmental stage of elementary and middle school students. But more importantly, leading in these systems has helped him foster knowledge and practice of supporting the adults who support these students.

For Parents & Community