BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — The fallout from the Netflix documentary “The Program” continues with an undisclosed number of former Academy at Ivy Ridge employees, who now work at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, being put on administrative leave. 

“The Program” details years of mental, physical and sexual abuse carried out against “students”  at the “behavior modification” facility between 2001 and 2009. The academy was originally passed off as a private academy for troubled youth until New York State took legal action against officials for issuing diplomas despite the academy not being accredited by the state Education Department.

The news broke days ago after a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement acknowledging the former Ivy Ridge employees have been placed on leave for their involvement at Ivy Ridge. 

North Country This Week previously attempted to verify the employment status of Amy Ritchie, former director of the girl’s program at Ivy Ridge, but SLPC officials declined to comment. 

"OMH takes allegations of abuse or neglect seriously, and takes measures to ensure state workers who have direct patient contact are thoroughly vetted, fingerprinted and undergo a criminal background check. The now-closed Ivy Ridge was a private facility. During its operations OMH had no oversight over the staff or their treatment of youth. We have placed individuals on leave as we assess this matter," the statement from the spokesperson reads. 

State officials say OMH employees undergo extensive background checks, including a “cross reference against the Justice Center’s Staff Exclusion List and the state’s Child Abuse Registry before they are hired.” 

State officials declined to comment on the employment history of any former or current employees in the statement. 

The fallout from the Ivy Ridge centered documentary has sped up rapidly over the last week. 

The United Methodists of Upper New York have distanced themselves from St. Lawrence County Board of Elections Republican Commissioner  Tom Nichols following his inclusion in the Netflix documentary "The Program."

Nichols, who worked as a Public Relations Coordinator for Ivy Ridge and was a county legislator at the time, was briefly interviewed during the documentary series while attending church and appeared to have no knowledge that the film crew had the intention of interviewing him prior.

At this time, Nichols remains in his position as elections commissioner and has not been charged or accused of any crimes, despite calls for his removal on social media. It would take an act from the Governor to remove him from the position.

In a statement from United Methodists of Upper New York, officials say they were made aware of the documentary that featured audio clips of the interview with Nichols while also saying that they are no longer associated with him.

"Upper New York had no knowledge of the events portrayed in the docuseries and no knowledge of Nichols’ involvement in the alleged abuse," church officials wrote.

Nichols offered the following comment in regard to the letter issued by the church:

“The comments are not only inaccurate but slanderous,” he said. Nichols added that he did not have more to say on the matter at this time.

Many former employees at Ivy Ridge have been facing harassment following the release of the documentary.

St. Lawrence County Sheriff Rick Engle and St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua have asked anyone who believes a crime was committed against them at Ivy Ridge to come forward. 

Conversely, they’ve asked those who do not have first hand knowledge to refrain from calling. They’ve also asked people to allow police time to investigate and to refrain from committing criminal acts such as harassing or threatening former employees.