The interdisciplinary intervention by the university in areas of high vulnerability of Santos, besides contributing to the strengthening of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS), highlights the suffering faced by community health agents (CHA) in their routines, coming from requests from citizens. These result from social exclusion and the violence in which they live, as well as unhealthy working conditions and low pay. The purpose of this article is to present an experience of systematic intervention through a university extension project, bringing elements that enhance the actions of community health agents of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in Santos. For this qualitative study we analyzed the field diaries of weekly meetings, from the perspective of teachers and students, for the period from August 2010 to June 2011. Data’s organization and analysis were based on the Grounded Theory. The results indicated the need of gathering the CHA experiences, broadening the understanding of the dilemmas faced by these professionals and consequently the impasses of implementing SUS and the FHS. Moreover, continued education should be encouraged, based upon a praxis able to promote CHA’s personal and professional projects.
Family Health Estrategy; Community Health Workers; Continued Education; Welcome; Qualitative Research; University Extension