Jeanette Obelcz

Jeanette Obelcz was elected as treasurer at WFSE's 51st biennial convention in 2025. 

Jeanette began her career in child welfare in Arizona after moving from Pennsylvania. She saw the impacts being in a non-union state had on not just her working conditions but on the families she served. Following years of stagnant wages and a safety incident in which she and her colleagues were told to "just keep working" she and her family decided to relocate to Washington. Upon starting work in DCYF (then CA) she immediately found out how to get more involved in our union.  

Jeanette has worked in DCYF in King County for nine years and currently works as a supervisor for CPS FAR and Investigations, FRS, and FVS in the King East office, she previously also supervised EFC, courtesy supervision, and ICPC cases. In 2019 she was awarded the CWTAP Scholar award and in 2023 she was awarded the regional award for supervisor. She believes strongly that our most valuable resource in child welfare is our frontline staff. If they are not respected, fairly compensated, and protected they cannot adequately serve the families of Washington state.  

Jeanette has been recognized for her contributions within WFSE through the WFSE 2021 Leadership Award, first ever 2022 WFSE President's Award recipient, 2021 and 2023 Political Activism Award, and 2023 Job Action of the Year recipient for the assignment pay campaign. Jeanette is the president of WFSE Local 889, serves on the WFSE Executive Board, is an eight year shop steward, chair of the statewide Organizing Committee, and part of the region four Union Management Communication Committee (UMCC) team and statewide UMCC team. 

Jeanette is also one of the founding members of the DCYF Policy Committee, which was founded February 19, 2021. 

She is passionate about mentoring new members to become member activists, forming a statewide network of support for member activists, and making sure every member has a voice in our union.