Oct 7, 2018 5 min read

When Janell Mallory works with Washington County youth – referrals from Children and Youth Services or Juvenile Probation – she wants them to know they’re worthy.

“Each child I see, for that one or two hours, you’re the bees knees,” said Mallory, 37. “For this hour, I want them to think, ‘My life is not as bad as I thought it was. The mistakes I’ve made – I can move forward.'”

Mallory’s approach is one she has seen used repeatedly by her boss and mentor, Mary Jo Podgurski.

“Her philosophy is amazing. ‘Every person is a person of worth.’ She means that. ‘One kid at a time.’ She means that,” said Mallory. “And I definitely believe they’re hearing it. I think the little things each educator does – we all do extra things that don’t get marked on time sheets or expense reports – but kids know we take the extra time. They know an adult cares about them.”

Mallory is a part of two Washington Health System Teen Outreach ECHO (Educate Children for Healthy Outcomes) teams. She oversees curriculum for Washington School District’s program, and works with those referred from the county. She is also an alumna of Teen Outreach, having taken sexual education classes with Podgurski as a student at Washington Park, and then as a Teen Outreach peer educator.

“I’m an advocate because I’m a product. I just feel like it’s my mission to try to do the same and honor (Podgurski’s) name. Not only to believe her philosophy, but act on it,” she said. “Kids need to feel that you’re a person who is going to support them.”

Though Podgurski demurs that the program is not about her, Teen Outreach wouldn’t exist without her.

Teen Outreach, in its 30th year, began in October 1988, with Podgurski’s first in-school sexuality class at Trinity High School. The program was initially intended to lower teen pregnancy rates. With the hospital’s support, Podgurski went into schools and provided sexual health education, and at one time, taught classes in 48 schools in four counties.

When the “Sex Lady” came in, students were privy to pertinent and accessible information from an adult who treated them with respect.

“She really values the input of young people,” said Violet Lawson, 24, a U.S. Army veteran who is now a graduate student at Temple University. Lawson first met Podgurski in a school sex ed class and later became involved as a peer educator and Real Talk performer. “She puts a lot of respect and value in younger people that, a lot of time, adults don’t. It’s something I try to carry on in working with younger people. I try to show them the same respect I do adults.”

Lawson said the program, and Podgurski’s guidance, gave her value.

“She respected us so highly, it made you feel important. What you said did not fall on deaf ears,” said Lawson. “I can say nice things about her forever.”

In 2013, the Washington County teen pregnancy rate dropped to 12 in 1,000 15- to 17-year-olds, down from 36 in 1,000 in 1989. Podgurski began training school districts to provide her curriculum themselves. Teen Outreach evolved to focus on respect and worthiness.

“Each person is a person of worth, and that has a lot to do with sexuality,” said Podgurski. “People often don’t realize what we’re doing has so much more to it than sexual health.”

Though she’s been teaching respect for self and others and consent from the beginning, Podgurski and her team have emphasized these topics over the last decade. They also help young people deal with the consequences of social media and the concept of online respect.

Podgurski has also been an advocate of peer education.

“You don’t give people power. You guide them to find their own power,” she said.

In addition to peer educators, the program includes educational mentoring, such as the ECHO programs, in which mentors are paired with students in Washington School District to help them graduate.

Washington Hospital President and CEO Gary B. Weinstein, who started in 1981 as hospital planner, said he’s had the privilege of working with Podgurski for the past 30 years.

“She’s done a terrific job with people in this community, especially young people in this community. She’s know affectionately as the ‘Sex Lady,’ but I think it’s more accurate to call her the ‘Respect Lady.’ She’s done so much beyond the area of teen pregnancy, emphasizing that every single person is a person of worth,” Weinstein said. “She has the greatest respect for every individual. No matter where they’re coming from, she always sees the worth. She always emphasizes that and I have a great deal of respect for that. It’s been privilege for Washington Health System.”

Weinstein said he’s looking forward to a reception being hosted by the hospital Thursday to commemorate the anniversary.

As for Podgurski, she’s grateful to still be doing what she’s doing.

“It’s a wonderful blessing,” she said. “I have a wonderful staff, and the kids who teach with me – they give me hope for the future.”

For more information, visit www.healthyteens.com or call 724-222-2311.