1. ANNUAL REPORT
Building a better community
by strengthening relationships
RelationshipSkillsCenter @SkillsCenter
2014

2. Relationship skills are essential tools for strong
families, the foundation of strong communities.
The Relationship Skills Center’s research-based
program empowers parents to develop healthy,
stable relationships that strengthen their
families. Parents learn communication, conflict
management and problem-solving skills in a
family-centered, engaging and interactive class.
Relationship Skills Center’s vision is for every
child to grow up in a healthy family. When
parents model good relationship skills, children
experience better outcomes across many aspects
of their lives, including lower incidence of
mental health disorders, lower rates of juvenile
delinquency and better school performance.
Since opening its doors in 2005, the Relationship
Skills Center has had a positive impact on more
than 5,000 families. The vast majority of them
came to class committed to making a change,
building self-reliance, cherishing their children
and creating new lives.
Imagine what the Relationship Skills Center
can accomplish with more resources and more
supporters like you. Share your good fortune.
Help us build neighborhoods one family at a time.
Support the Relationship Skills Center.
WHAT
WE DO

3. 2014 IMPACTFLOURISHING FAMILIES PROGRAM
Flourishing Families Program for Couples
of program graduates:
#RelationshipSmarts
Made possible in part by the generous support of the Rotary Club of Sacramento,
#RelationshipSmarts is a program designed to teach teens life skills. In addition
to teaching communication and conflict management skills, the program equips
teens with skills to handle difficult situations on social media and in real life. The program focuses
on helping teens understand that healthy relationships start with knowing your own values and
expectations. The #RelationshipSmarts teens come away knowing how to recognize the warning
signs of a dangerous or unhealthy relationship, as well as strategies to prevent dating violence.
In its rollout summer, 78 teenagers attended #RelationshipSmarts held at five partner locations
throughout Sacramento County.
Flourishing Families Program for Singles
of program graduates:
87%
report less yelling and screaming at home
90%
report better communication and
understanding with their partner
91%
report improvement in their ability to
discuss problems in their relationship
79%
show improvement in communication skills
72%
show improvement in problem solving skills as
measured by the Family Problem Solving Scale
(a researched-based evaluation tool that assesses
a couple’s communication and conflict resolution
skills). Ahmadi, K., Azad-Marzabadi, E., Ashrafi, S. M. N., & Raiisi,
F. (2007). Construction and validation of family problem solving
scale. Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(24), 3958-3964.
92%
report they now know the warning
signs of a dangerous relationship
87%
report less yelling when arguing
91%
report an increase in their ability to listen
to another’s point-of-view when disagreeing
83%
report waiting to get to know someone better
before becoming intimate
Adults
Teens
871PARTICIPANTS
COMPLETED
and
GRADUATED
100%
of the
PROGRAM

4. 55%
2014 IMPACT
VOLUNTEERS
SOCIAL MEDIA
WHOM WE SERVE
120 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED
844 FACEBOOK
FRIENDS
2x over last year
2,400 TWITTER
FOLLOWERS
3x over last year
to help individuals
strengthen their families
(estimated value of their
contributions to the Skill
Center’s programs: $119,600)
4,600
HOURS of
SERVICE
55%
INCREASE IN
VOLUNTEER HOURS
OVER LAST YEAR
The Relationship Skills Center is open to everyone
who wants to strengthen their relationships and
serves some of the most fragile families in the
community. Two-thirds of Relationship Skills Center
graduates hold a high school diploma or less, and
more than two-thirds have a household income of less
than $20,000 annually.
To best support families, Relationship Skills Center
connects participants to a variety of community
resources to meet other needs.

5. PROGRAMMING OVERVIEW
AGENCY
REFERRAL
STAFF
RECRUITS
WEBSITE PHONE IN
RECEIVE INTAKE INTERVIEW
PARTICIPANTS REFERRED THROUGH:
ENROLL IN FLOURISHING FAMILIES
PROBE POSSIBLE INCIDENCES
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
(not eligible for RSC classes,
receive referral)
ASSESS RELATIONSHIP STATUS
AND DETERMINE BEST CLASS
PLACEMENT FOR
OPTIMUM OUTCOME
SCREEN FOR NEED OF
IMMEDIATE SERVICES
FROM OTHER PROVIDERS
(housing, food, clothing)
COUPLES
(married or unmarried couples
who attend class together)
16 Hours of curriculum
include:
Speaking and listening
Discussion
Problem solving
How to ask for what
you want
How to generalize
communication skills
to professional settings
Offered at central locations as one-
per-week evening classes for six
weeks or three all-day Saturdays.
SINGLES
16 Hours of curriculum
include:
Family patterns
Relationship expectations
Chemistry of attraction
Healthy versus unhealthy
relationships
Keeping kids safe
while dating
Speaking and listening
How to ask for what
you want
How to generalize
communication skills to
professional settings
Offered at central locations as one-
per-week evening classes for six
weeks or three all-day Saturdays.
RECEIVE
SUPPORT
Relationship Skills Center
sets participants up for
success by providing:
• Reminders to participants
of upcoming classes
• On-site play care
and meals
• Graduation incentives
• Follow up after class to
support engagement with
services provided by other
organizations
FEDERAL DISCLAIMER: Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant Number: #90FM0059. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions
or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The Sacramento City
Unified School District is not a sponsor, endorser or otherwise associated with the following organization: Permit 48

6. 86
FUND DEVELOPMENT
OVERVIEW
DONORS
RECOGNITION
The Relationship Skills Center is recognized
for its great work. The leadership team is
frequently invited to present the Skill Center’s
innovative methodology in healthy relationship
education at conferences across the United
States, including the respected Federal Grantee
Conference in Washington, D.C. Meaningful
awards, including ones from the prestigious
Points of Light Foundation and GreatNonprofits,
also embellish the Skill Center’s offices.
86 20%20%
INCREASE OF
DONORS FROM
LAST YEAR
TOTAL DONORS
TOTAL
FUNDS
RAISED
NEARLY
WELL-TRAINED AND DEDICATED VOLUNTEER COACHES
CHALLENGE
 To learn communication skills well, participants need
individual coaching as they practice in class.
 We want caring, qualified coaches, and we need one
coach for every three couples in class, but staff size is
limited by budget constraints.
 We want coaches
who are with us for
the long term so
that we are able to
invest more time in
training and support.
BY THE NUMBERS
20
Number of
volunteer coaches
$
39,000+
In-kind value, annually,
of volunteer coaches
7
Number of coaches
completing hours toward
their license supervised by
our volunteer clinicians
5
Number of schools that
partner with Relationship
Skills Center
1 TO 3
Ratio of coach to
couple in every class
16
Number of points of
improvement on the Family
Problem Solving Scale 1* for
couples pre-test to post-test
*Ahmadi, K., Azad-Marzabadi, E., Ashrafi, S. M. N., &
Raiisi, F. (2007). Construction and validation of family
problem solving scale. Journal of Applied Sciences,
7(24), 3958-3964.
SOLUTION
 Volunteer coaches work with instructors at each
class to provide more one on one interaction with
participants.
 Through an organized effort to build relationships
with Family Studies, Human Services, Psychology, and
Marriage and Family Therapy departments at five local
colleges and universities, interns and others can earn
college credit while advancing their hands-on skills.
 For volunteer coaches
completing their
licenses in Marriage
and Family Therapy
or Social Work,
clinical supervision
is provided.
RESULTS
 The Relationship Skills Center currently receives 1500
volunteer coaching hours annually, in-kind value
of $39,000+.
 We have seen consistent and significant gains in
couples communication skills from our participants.
On average, couples see a 16-point improvement
from pre-test to post-test on the Family Problem
Solving Scale 1*.
*Ahmadi, K., Azad-Marzabadi, E., Ashrafi, S. M. N., & Raiisi, F. (2007). Construction and
validation of family problem solving scale. Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(24), 3958-3964.
 Our coaches develop
a new skill set, explore
career options and/or earn
hours for their license or
internship. With support of
staff, trainers and supervising
clinicians, they make a
difference for our families
and in our community.
HOW IT WORKS
 We provide twenty hours of training prior to
participant interaction: sixteen hours of class
observation and four hours of formal training.
 We communicate frequently with coaches, both
informally and through regular meetings.
 Staff and participants sign thank you cards and take
time to tell coaches how their presence has made
a difference.
 Our Program Coordinator is a former volunteer coach
who knows the stress of earning an education while
working and acquiring hands-on hours. That unique
understanding guides the coordinator’s supervision,
scheduling, advice and follow up.
 Two clinicians volunteer their time to provide
supervision to coaches working toward their license
in Marriage and Family Therapy or Social Work.
 Level of commitment to coaching is high because
many coaches are receiving academic credit or
completing supervised hours.
Individual Attention Supports Participant Learning
skillscenter
.org
“ The first day, I felt like I was in the right place.
The coaches were very good. They helped me
save my marriage.”
-Relationship Skills Center Participant
“ The coaches really helped me develop skills that
improve my relationships – not just with my
partner but with coworkers, clientele, and other
family members.”
-Relationship Skills Center Participant
PARTNERSHIPS
Recognizing that strong families can transform
a neighborhood, dozens of community agencies,
nonprofit groups, schools, colleges and faith-
based organizations believe in the Skill Center’s
mission and partner to empower even more
couples, parents and teens.
$
97,704 3XOVER LAST YEAR
Relationship Skills Center, a thought leader in the development
and deployment of dedicated volunteer coaches, shared its training
techniques at a recent Federal Grantee Conference in Washington, D.C.

7. SUCCESS STORIES
“Marissa” was a single mom
raising her 13-year old daughter
when she came to class.
After completing the program,
she became involved in a
new relationship.
“I immediately
looked for red
flags such as
possessiveness
or jealously. I let him know my
baggage from my past and we are
taking things slow.”
“You have made our
home a happier
place, and that
happiness will
rub off on the
children.“
“Kelly” had moved from place to place
as a military service member, and
she and her young son were new to
Sacramento. She knew few people,
and her last relationship had been an
abusive one. She spoke at graduation:
“I always stand
up for my son
and I make
sure people
treat him well. However, now I
realize that to take care of him,
I need to stand up for myself.“
“Allison” and “Greg” were
struggling in their relationship,
and felt unsupported and alone.
But soon after enrolling in the
program, they were able to address
conflicts and resolve issues instead
of always avoiding the problem.

8. For more information and to DONATE ONLINE, visit:
www.skillscenter.org
For answers to your questions and
to learn where to mail your donation,
email: info@skillscenter.org
or call: 916.362.1900
RelationshipSkillsCenter @SkillsCenter@SkillsCenter