Ag Worker Health & Services — which operates a clinic in Powell — recently received multiple cash awards totalling more than $160,000 from the federal government.

The organization received $60,582 worth of health center quality improvement awards from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The health center was awarded for providing clinic services demonstrating: clinical quality, advancement in health information technology and meeting Patient Centered Medical Home standards and guidelines.

“Our clinical staff strive to provide primary and preventive health care services according to nationally accepted clinical standards,” said Claudia Stephens, strategic planning specialist for the Billings-based Ag Worker Health & Services.

Additional, the organization received a $100,000 Capital Assistance for Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts (CADRE) award through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“The funds will be used to provide sustainable outreach and appropriate health care services at agricultural work sites and other locations in Billings and the surrounding rural area,” said Stephens.

“Previously, we used our personal cars to travel to agricultural work sites when a limited group of agricultural workers were unable to make it into our clinics,” Stephens explained. “With this money, we will develop means to provide services in a manner that is flexible and quickly deployed.”

Ag Worker Health & Services provides medical, dental and behavioral health services to agricultural workers and their families in Montana, Wyoming and northwest North Dakota. Payment for health care services is based on a person’s annual income.

For further information, call 1-800-813-4492. In addition to Powell, Ag Worker Health & Services has clinics in  Billings, Dillon, Lolo and Fairview, Montana.