VENA State-Developed Materials

What is VENA?

VENA is a participant-centered, health outcome-based approach to the WIC nutrition assessment, and puts the participant's needs and the goal of a healthy outcome at the core of WIC nutrition services.

VENA Guidance assists WIC State agencies in developing policies and procedures related to the WIC nutrition assessment. The USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) first issued VENA Guidance in 2006. Since then, State and local agencies have put new approaches into action and discovered more effective strategies to foster participants’ engagement in the WIC appointment and to encourage participants to adopt positive nutrition and physical activity behaviors.

Read more about VENA, and access the guidance right here on WIC works.

Materials and tools from WIC State agencies designed to support the VENA initiative:

• Getting to the Heart of the Matter - Massachusetts WIC
• Tapping into the Power of Influence - Chickasaw Nation WIC
• Train the Trainer Series - Maryland WIC
• WIC Connects - Washington WIC
• WIC Staff Training - Oregon WIC

Also available is a series of webinars that focus on the work of WIC State agencies on the VENA II Training Initiative page.