This paper aims to contribute to the field of study of the community health agent in its relation to the education field. The study investigated the work process of community agents who live in shantytowns and work in public programs and also in Non-Governmental Organizations, in the north zone of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. The main results of the study are the determinations and characteristics of the community health agents' work process, from their insertion in the boundary and as subjects who have experiences, social relation networks and accumulated knowledge. With such focus, the intention is to enlarge the view about the role played by the agents so as to allow an advance in the debate about the possibilities and limits of such initiatives.
Health educators; Poverty areas; Government programs